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Albany schools launch stop‑arm bus camera program; fines handled by city
Summary
The Albany City School District will begin a stop‑arm bus camera pilot with the City of Albany and Bus Patrol, starting a warning period on the 15th and moving to ticketing Oct. 20. Fines are levied and collected by the city; the district will request reporting on violations.
The Albany City School District announced a stop‑arm bus camera initiative the board will roll out in partnership with the City of Albany, Bus Patrol and bus contractor First Student. The district said a one‑month warning period will begin Monday, after which camera‑captured stop‑arm violations will be ticketed; the warning period runs through Oct. 20.
The program will place cameras on bus stop arms to identify vehicles that pass school buses while students are loading or unloading. Superintendent briefings and district communications described the enforcement fines as statutory amounts that are collected by the city, not the school district.
The district’s communications lead, Ron Lesko, said: “The school district does not receive any revenue. We are a mere partner, to make sure that we can provide a vehicle … to inform the city and law enforcement of those that are violating a long standing law to not pass the school bus as students are loading and unloading.” Lesko described a staged implementation and said the district will participate in a joint press conference with the city and vendors.
Board members asked for clarity on who sets camera locations, how fines will be distributed, and whether tickets add license points. Secretary Savage told the board the $250 base fine is set by state law, not by the city or district: “That $250 fine is statutory. It’s the same across the state.”
The district and several board members urged the city to provide regular reports to the district and asked to be looped into whatever data Bus Patrol will deliver to municipal offices. Member Almenyawi requested periodic violation reports “maybe per quarter or per month” so the board can track the program’s effects on school‑route safety.
Board members also discussed expected public reaction and the need for community communications during the program’s initial enforcement period.
The board did not vote on the program at the meeting; presenters said the district’s role is partnership, communication and requesting operational reporting from city counterparts and the vendor.
