Photo: Getty Images
The Onondaga County Legislature in Syracuse, New York, has approved a pilot program to install stop-arm cameras on school buses in six districts. The districts to receive the cameras are East Syracuse Minoa, Liverpool, Baldwinsville, North Syracuse, Jamesville DeWitt, and Fabius-Pompey. The cameras are designed to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses while students are boarding or alighting.
The decision to install the cameras comes as part of an effort to increase student safety. The cameras will be operational for the 2025-2026 school year. Drivers caught passing a stopped school bus will face a fine of $250 for a first-time offense.
The approval of this pilot program marks a significant step in enhancing the safety of students in the county. According to Syracuse.com, Jay Leo, a school bus driver, had to stop two of his students from getting off the bus as a car passed the bus on the right in 2022. This incident underscores the need for such safety measures.