White Plains has joined the growing list of municipalities using cameras on school buses to enforce regulations prohibiting motorists from passing a stopped school bus in either direction. The city and the White Plains City School District have signed on with the company BusPatrol America LLC to operate cameras on more than 100 school buses used by the district. BusPatrol has its headquarters in Lorton, Virginia, and has installed and operates cameras on about 30,000 school buses nationwide.
The school bus cameras are activated whenever the arm on which a “stop” sign is mounted is extended and various red lights on the buses begin flashing. Motorists whose vehicle is caught by the cameras passing the stopped school bus would face a fine of at least $250 dollars under New York state law. After an initial 30-day period during which only warnings are issued to violators, on Oct. 6 actual enforcement in White Plains begins.
Each potential violation caught on camera is to be reviewed by city staff before a citation is issued. An ordinance that was approved by the city’s Common Council authorizing the mayor to execute a contract with BusPatrol specified that BusPatrol would receive 55% of the revenue collected and the city would receive the remaining 45%. Costs of installation of the cameras and operation of the system come out of BusPatrol’s share.
“This initiative is about one thing: keeping our kids safe,” Mayor Tom Roach said. “By partnering with the school district and BusPatrol, we are making our streets safer and giving families confidence that their children are protected on the way to and from school.”
White Plains School Superintendent Joseph L. Ricca said, “The safety of our students is our top priority. Implementing this program is a major step in protecting children and encouraging drivers to make safer choices. We are proud to take part in this community-wide effort to safeguard kids every day.”
According to data from the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), during the 2024-2025 school year there were 39.3 million violations in the U.S. where a driver illegally passed a stopped school bus. NASDPTS said that this represented an improvement over the previous school year when the number of violations nationwide stood at 45.2 million. While NASDPTS did not conclude a cause and effect, the decrease appeared to coincide with the increased use of school bus cameras for enforcement.
There are approximately 14,000 school busses across New York state equipped with BusPatrol’s technology. Data show that fewer than 5% of violators who have been caught passing a stopped school bus were caught doing it a second time.
BusPatrol and Westchester County joined in a bus camera program that municipalities could join. As of August, Blind Brook-Rye Union Free School District, Croton-Harmon Schools, Eastchester Union Free School District, Greenburgh Central School District, Harrison Central School District, Hendrick Hudson Central School District, Katonah-Lewisboro School District, Lakeland Central School District, Mamaroneck Schools, Ossining Union Free School District, and Tarrytown Union Free School District had joined the county-wide program. From Nov. 18, 2024, through June 26, 2025, there were 14,897 tickets issued across 879 buses. In Westchester’s county-wide program, fewer than 7% of the violations were by repeat offenders.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said in August, “The safety of our children is non-negotiable, and the success of this program sends a clear message that illegal and dangerous passing of stopped school buses will not be tolerated. Every ticket issued through our School Bus Stop Arm Safety Camera Program sends a message that we are looking out for our kids and that drivers who illegally pass school buses will be held accountable for breaking the law, even when they think no one is watching. In less than one year this program has grown to be integrated within 12 of Westchester’s school districts, with seven more set to participate by next school year (2025-2026). By leveraging public awareness and utilizing smart enforcement tools like this new school bus safety camera system, we’re not only holding reckless drivers accountable – we’re creating safer streets and peace of mind for families throughout our county.”
