Ask a Cop: School Buses and Substations

This week, Captain Paul Starks of the Montgomery County Police Department takes on questions from Patch readers.

Patch Reader Question: What is the law regarding stopping for a school bus on a road where there is a left turn center lane like Route 355 in Gaithersburg?

Captain Paul Starks: Unless the highway is divided, all traffic must stop.

Patch Reader Question: It seems to be customary in Montgomery County for drivers who are pulled over by police to stop their car immediately, even if they are on a busy thoroughfare such as Georgia or Connecticut, instead of turning onto the next side street before stopping. This leads to traffic problems and puts the officer at greater risk. Is it considered evading arrest if a driver proceeds to the next available side street before stopping, assuming the next side street isn't miles away? Can an officer ask a driver to move to a side street?

Captain Paul Starks: Yes they can.

Patch Reader Question: Fact or myth: Crime goes up in the summertime.

Captain Paul Starks: Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.

Patch Reader Question: With the increased business development and residential construction in the East Silver Spring areas, there seems to be a strong rationale for maintaining police presence closer to the area. Since the 3rd District Police Station presently located at 801 Sligo Avenue is being relocated, is it possible to maintain and repurpose the existing facility at 801 Sligo Avenue as a police "sub-station", so there continues to be a police presence closer to the increasing business and residential development and crime in the East Silver Spring and downtown Silver Spring locations?

Captain Paul Starks: Currently the police share space with the fire department and the Silver Spring Urban Advisory on Georgia Avenue, just north of Sligo Avenue. This facility is scheduled to remain open after the 3rd District station is relocated.