Stop-arming Reckless Driving with Scotia-Glenville Cameras
Introduction to the Problem
SCOTIA-GLENVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -To tackle reckless driving, Scotia-Glenville Central School District has installed stop-arm cameras on 30 of its 46 school busses. Local officials met outside the district’s bus garage to explain the new system.
“Route 5 and Route 50 are our highest penalty place but I will say there’s not a road that has not had a bus stopped and had a car go through it,” stated Clara Bisaill, the district’s transportation supervisor.
The Extent of the Issue
According to the Glenville Police Department, illegal school bus passings happen more than 50,000 times a day in the state. Chief Stephen V. Janik said his officers can’t solve this problem on their own. “With limited resources, the amount of school busses, the amount of stops, the amount of miles and roads that they travel, we can’t have a police officer behind every school bus. So this now is a great way to have those stops monitored on a daily basis.”
The Solution: Stop-Arm Cameras
The 4K camera system costs $10,000 per bus. Each was paid for by an investment from BusPatrol, who also makes the cameras.
“By looking at that license plate, even if we can’t make out every letter, we’ll be able to make out the majority of that and also know the make and the model of the vehicle and basically match that across multiple databases that look up register owner information,” explained Ryan Monell, Senior Vice President of BusPatrol.
How the System Works
Once AI determines if someone illegally passed a school bus, the footage is sent to the police department who will then decide if a ticket will be issued or not. Below is a chart that lists the difference between getting a ticket from an officer via BusPatrol and in-person:
| BusPatrol ticket | In-person ticket |
| Zero points on your license. | Eight points on your license. |
| $250, $275, $300 per offense in an 18-month period. |
$250-$400, $600-750, $750-$1,000 per offense within three years. |
| No jail time. | Up to 30 or 180 days of jail time. |
Money made from BusPatrol tickets is distributed between the company and Town government.
Implementation and Enforcement
These camera systems are issuing warnings between March 31 and April 30. BusPatrol tickets will be issued from May 1 and on.
Conclusion
The introduction of stop-arm cameras on Scotia-Glenville school buses is a significant step towards tackling reckless driving and ensuring the safety of school children. With the ability to monitor and enforce illegal passings, these cameras can help reduce the risk of accidents and promote a safer environment for everyone.
FAQs
- Q: How many school buses in the Scotia-Glenville Central School District are equipped with stop-arm cameras?
- A: 30 out of 46 school buses are equipped with stop-arm cameras.
- Q: Who pays for the camera systems?
- A: The camera systems are paid for by an investment from BusPatrol, the company that makes the cameras.
- Q: What is the penalty for illegally passing a school bus as captured by BusPatrol cameras?
- A: The penalty includes zero points on your license, with fines ranging from $250 to $300 per offense within an 18-month period, and no jail time.
- Q: When will BusPatrol tickets be issued?
- A: BusPatrol tickets will be issued starting from May 1, after a warning period from March 31 to April 30.
