Drivers Who Forget the Rules When It's Back to School Time Will Learn the Hard Way to Beware of Bus Cameras

by M.C. Millman

Rockland County's School Safety Initiative's push to install cameras on the bus arm, which can capture drivers driving past the bus who are subsequently ticketed, was pronounced a success at the end of the last school year and should be an even more rousing success as more school districts join the effort in preparation for the new school year. 

"Good news," Rockland County Executive Ed Day said on a social media post. "We are making headway on two fronts in our effort to make our County just a little safer for our children. In just one six-week period, 111 drivers got the message when they got hit with $250 tickets for passing a stopped school bus."

Seven school districts have officially opted into the Rockland County School Bus Safety program thus far, as reported by Rockland Daily here, including the ERCSD, Pearl River UFSD, Nanuet UFSD, North Rockland CSD, Clarkstown CSD, Suffern CSD, and Nyack UFSD. 

The installations and upkeep are funded by the offenders, as reported in March by Rockland Daily here.

Drivers caught on the bus cameras illegally passing activated stop-arms on school buses will then be issued the following penalties by mail: 1st Violation $250, 2nd Violation $275, and 3rd Violation $300 (within an 18-month period).