Westchester County implements cameras to catch school bus violators

Westchester County has officially adopted new legislation aimed at enhancing school bus safety by implementing a camera system to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. This initiative follows a statewide law allowing the summonsing of registered vehicle owners based on photographic evidence of violations.

The Westchester County Board approved the program, which will see the installation of 13 cameras on each school bus at no cost to the district. These cameras include five interior cameras monitoring the passenger area and the driver, as well as traffic management cameras that activate when the bus's red lights are on. The system is designed to capture license plates of vehicles that violate the stop sign law, with tickets sent to the registered owners.

Installation of the cameras is expected to begin immediately, with some cameras operational by the start of the school year and full implementation by the end of September. Board members discussed the importance of community awareness regarding the new enforcement measures, suggesting that proactive communication could help reduce violations.

The initiative aims to improve safety for children boarding and disembarking from buses, with previous implementations in other counties reportedly leading to a significant decrease in violations after initial enforcement. The board expressed optimism that the new system would deter dangerous driving behavior and enhance overall traffic safety around schools.