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School resource officer: new camera evidence led to tickets after spike in cars passing stopped buses
Summary
Trooper Daniela Solano told the Millstone Township Board that bus-mounted cameras captured about 20 passing violations since October and about 15 summonses were issued when plates were readable; she credited new roadside signage with a recent drop in incidents.
Trooper Daniela Solano, the New Jersey State Police school resource officer assigned to Millstone Township, told the board the district has recorded a rise in motorists passing stopped school buses since October and that the district’s buses are now equipped with cameras that capture license plates.
"The license plate is very clear," Solano said, describing the evidence flow: plates are emailed to her, and if readable she issues a summons to the registered owner. She said the offense carries a five-point penalty on a driver’s license and a minimum $100 fine, and that more serious conduct can result in higher fines. "We have had about 20 violations from October till now and I have issued about 15 tickets because I cannot sometimes read the license plate completely," she said.
Solano said she had been working with the district transportation supervisor to identify problem locations. After township officials placed two caution signs on Millstone Road and one on Lakewood Road, she said the district saw a noticeable reduction in incidents: "last week we didn't really have any until Friday — it went just down to one." She urged the community to treat stopped buses with "zero tolerance" to prioritize children’s safety.
The presentation summarized the enforcement pathway: the camera identifies plates; the resource officer reviews footage; a summons is mailed to the registered owner; the recipient must appear in court. Solano noted that a registered owner receiving a summons is required to appear even when it is unclear whether that person was the driver.
The board did not take formal action during the briefing but members and administrators discussed signage and intergovernmental coordination as short-term mitigation steps. The resource officer said she continues to coordinate with the township and mayor’s office and recommended ongoing community education and enforcement as longer-term strategies.
