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Marshall district pilot of stop-arm cameras logged sharp rise in detected violations during four-month period
Summary
A presentation to the Marshall Public School District board described a $90,000 grant that equipped 30 buses with dual cameras; in roughly four months the pilot captured 120 stop-arm violations versus about 48 per year previously, a change the presenter framed as improved detection and a prompt for continued education and enforcement.
Tricia, presenting a case study compiled by Chris Webb of the Southwest Regional Development Commission, told the board that Southwest Coaches received a $90,000 grant to equip 30 buses with dual front-and-rear stop-arm cameras as part of a student safety initiative.
Tricia said Minnesota law requires motorists to stop at least 20 feet from a bus with red lights flashing or its stop arm extended and noted penalties can reach $500. She said the system was installed in 2025, staff were trained, and the pilot produced a marked rise in documented violations: about 48 violations per year historically versus 120 violations captured in roughly four months after cameras were installed. The presenter said annualizing the short-term data could indicate as many as 270 violations yearly but cautioned the increase reflects better detection rather than necessarily worse driving.
The presentation described how drivers flag a violation on the bus, which captures video starting two minutes before and five minutes after the event; videos are downloaded at the bus garage, reviewed by office staff, and forwarded to the MPD (Marshall Police Department) and a processing entity identified in the presentation as NTD for enforcement. Meeting participants said the camera images and electronically taken pictures are legally admissible and that the Department of Public Safety and MnDOT supported the pilot.
Board members asked how citations are processed; the presenter said police officers may reach out to violators and issue citations. The presenter emphasized that the program’s goals are to enhance student safety and streamline enforcement, and she urged continued community education around bus and pedestrian safety.
The board expressed appreciation for the work and for Southwest Coaches’ participation in the pilot.
