BUFFALO, N.Y. — The City of Buffalo is reminding motorists that they will be ticketing drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus beginning October 1, 2024.
School buses that transport students are now equipped with stop arm cameras. Drivers caught illegally passing a stopped school buss in the City of Buffalo will be issued a ticket. Those that receive a ticket could face a fine up to $250.
This new initiative is a partnership between the City of Buffalo, Buffalo Public Schools and BusPatrol. All school buses were equipped with the stop arm cameras last spring.
The state’s Traffic Safety Committee said that "roughly 50,000 vehicles illegally pass school buses every day in NYS. The cameras will snap an image of anyone who illegally passes a stopped school bus. The technology, installation, and maintenance are provided at no cost to the school district or taxpayers. Additionally, the school district will benefit from additional safety features, such as internal cameras to monitor dangerous activity onboard the bus."
Octavio Villegas, Executive Director of Buffalo’s Traffic Violations Bureau said in a Public Service Announcement (PSA), "We thank you in advance for your cooper operation and helping to protect Buffalo's youngest residents by promoting safe behaviors that give our students safe access to their education."
In addition to the PSAs announcing the initiative, there will be rotating digital messaging boards reminding drivers not to pass a stopped school bus.
The state’s Traffic Safety Committee said that "roughly 50,000 vehicles illegally pass school buses every day in NYS. The cameras will snap an image of anyone who illegally passes a stopped school bus. The technology, installation, and maintenance are provided at no cost to the school district or taxpayers. Additionally, the school district will benefit from additional safety features, such as internal cameras to monitor dangerous activity onboard the bus."
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