Drivers who blow past a stopped school bus near Klein ISD campuses face a $1,085 fine that cannot be dismissed with a driving safety course.

The Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office and the Klein ISD Police Department have partnered on a School Bus Safety Traffic Initiative, setting up targeted operations in school zones and along bus routes, Fox 26 Houston reported. The effort is part of National School Bus Safety Week, which runs Oct. 19–23.

Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman's office is one of several agencies running zero-tolerance patrols. Harris County Precinct 5 and local school district police departments are also participating, according to Fox 26.

Passing a stopped bus: $1,085

The campaign's primary target is drivers who illegally pass school buses while children are loading or unloading. The Harris County Justice of the Peace Courts fine schedule sets the total fine and court costs at $1,085 for the violation, Fox 26 reported.

Under Texas law, passing a stopped school bus is excluded from offenses eligible for dismissal through a Driving Safety Course (DSC). The citation stays on a driver's record.

Fox 26 reported that a major cause of citations during enforcement operations is driver confusion over multi-lane roads and center turn lanes. Captain Jonathan Zitzmann of the Precinct 4 Constable's Office said a turn lane does not qualify as a physical barrier.

"Unless there's a curb or a physical median … you've got to stop also," Zitzmann told Fox 26.

The key rule for Spring-area drivers: on any road without a raised median or concrete wall separating directions of travel, all traffic must stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing. Only on divided highways with a physical barrier may opposing traffic proceed with caution.

School-zone speeding fines start at $155

Officers are also targeting drivers who exceed posted speed limits in active school zones. Fines in Harris County JP Courts start at $155 for driving 1 to 10 mph over the limit, according to Fox 26. Going 20 mph over carries fines of $205 or more, with costs climbing from there.

Herman's office posted on X on Oct. 19 urging drivers to obey bus stop signals during the safety week.

The enforcement patrols are active through Friday, Oct. 23.