Senator Elaine Phillips Announces ‘School Bus Camera Safety Act’ Passes Senate

Senator Elaine Phillips announced today that the New York State Senate passed a bill, which she co-sponsored, that authorizes the installation and use of stop-arm cameras on school buses to detect and record vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses.

“Parents should not have to fear for the safety of their children when they send them off to school,” Senator Phillips said. “This measure will not only deter motorists from passing stopped school busses, which is happening at alarming rates, but will save lives. I applaud my colleagues for passing this measure and urge the Assembly and Governor Cuomo to take it up.”

The bill, S.518B, would authorize the use of stop-arm cameras on school buses and would permit evidence taken from the cameras to be used in issuing tickets to violators.

The bill would retain the current financial penalties for stop-arm violations with fines of $250. Unlike situations with police officers involved, the bill would not impose points or imprisonment for convictions.

Fines would cover enforcement and operational costs of the program, with localities receiving the fines directly, and school districts each receiving a portion as needed to absorb direct costs. Participating school districts would also be required to submit reports on the results of the program.

Studies estimate over 50,000 drivers in New York illegally pass stopped school buses daily. Stop-arm violations are a growing concern throughout the nation, which has prompted many states to enact similar legislation, including Maryland, Connecticut, Georgia, North Carolina, Iowa, Virginia and Washington.

Under current law, only a police officer who witnesses the violation can issue a ticket. This bill permits the evidence taken from school bus safety cameras to be used in prosecuting violators.