Rockland touts success of school bus traffic cameras

Motorists in Rockland County have been photographed illegally passing stopped school buses 17,000 times during the 2023-2024 school year, according to County Executive Ed Day and other officials.

In March of last year, Day announced that the country would begin a program in which cameras would be installed on school buses used in the county and have the capability of taking pictures of vehicles that illegally pass when the bus is stopped. Motorists are not supposed to pass from behind a stopped school bus that has its red warning lights flashing. The same holds when a bus has stop signs extended. The law prohibits passing a stopped school bus that has lights flashing or sotp signs extended from either the front or from behind. Some buses use one or more stop signs mounted on fold-out arms attached to the bus. The county has an arrangement with the commercial company BusPatrol that handles the installation of the cameras and their operation in return for a percentage of receipts from fines.

“These results are shocking, but not surprising given the national epidemic that exists with illegal school bus passings,” said Ryan Monell, vice president of government operations at BusPatrol. “BusPatrol is committed to strong partnerships with our municipal partners to provide them the most advanced technology to better enforce state laws, hold violators accountable and enhance road safety.”

The schedule of fines calls for conviction for a first violation to be $250, a second violation within 18 months to be $275, and a third violation within 18 months to cost $300.

Day said, “These cameras will automatically record any vehicle that illegally passes a stopped school bus, capturing crucial evidence that will be used to enforce traffic laws and hold offenders accountable. But this program is not about enforcement; it’s about saving lives; And not just any lives… lives of children.”

According to Chief Ted Brovarski of the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, “This is about the safety of students. There’s been too many accidents and too many tragedies in Rockland County. When you see those red lights flashing you have to stop.”