For the past few weeks, the Wareham Police Department Patrol Division has been stepping up enforcement of traffic laws throughout the Town of Wareham.

The division is aggressively targeting speeders, stop sign violators, drivers who run red lights, and aggressive drivers who make constant lane changes, tailgate other vehicles, and generally have no regard for traffic laws, according to a Wareham Police press release.

Particular attention is being focused on drivers who disregard stopped school buses, speed in school zones, and speed past children who are waiting for the school bus. These enforcement efforts will continue indefinitely.

Drivers should be aware that speed limits and warning signs are only a “guideline” for ideal conditions. If there is snow and ice on the roadways, or children waiting for school buses, operators should be driving slower than the posted speed limit.

Massachusetts General Law states: “No person operating a motor vehicle on any way shall operate at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and proper, having regard to traffic and the use of the way and the safety of the public."

Ice and snow covered roads in the past few weeks have resulted in numerous accidents throughout town, police said.

The minimum fine for exceeding the speed limit is $100. Fines for failure to stop at a stop sign or a marked lanes violation are set at $100. Failure to stop for a school bus is $250 for a first offense, $1000 for the second, and $2000 for the third and subsequent offenses. In addition, insurance companies can impose a surcharge that could add up to thousands of dollars, depending on an individual's driving history, police warned.

Police are asking that residents drive responsibly to avoid receiving a citation, and thanked drivers who do drive responsibly.