Local school district explains how stop-arm cameras capture drivers illegally passing school buses
Westchester officials announced almost 15,000 tickets were given due to drivers illegally passing school buses.
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Westchester County officials say drivers illegally passing school buses remains a serious problem.
"I think it's very dangerous," says Emily Marin, a Tarrytown resident.
"I can't imagine why somebody would do something like that knowing that there's children getting on and off the bus and crossing the street," says Tom Cunningham, a Tarrytown resident.
Earlier this week, Westchester officials announced almost 15,000 tickets were given out during the bulk of last school for this.
The tickets are given out through cameras on the bus as part of the BusPatrol Safety Program.
News 12 got an inside look at how the cameras work on the buses at the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns.
"Once the stop-arms are deployed, we have the BusPatrol cameras here [on the side] and these are the ones that catch the passing motorists," says Eli Diaz, director of Transportation.
Diaz says about 133 tickets were given out in Tarrytown from last September to mid-March.
He says once the cameras capture it, it's then given to the county.
"These cameras are extremely high resolution, so it's practically impossible to get away from that," says Diaz.
He says even with the information they put out about the cameras and tickets, drivers still run past them.
"Take a little bit of extra time. If you have to leave for work a bit earlier, do it because we want to keep our children safe," he says.
County officials say the minimum fine is $250 and the fines increase for repeat offenders.
The school districts currently enrolled in the BusPatrol program are:
Blind Brook-Rye Union Free School District
Croton-Harmon Schools
Eastchester Union Free School District
Greenburgh Central School District
Harrison Central School District
Hendrick Hudson Central School District
Katonah-Lewisboro School District
Lakeland Central School District
Mamaroneck Schools
Ossining Union Free School District
Tarrytown Union Free School District
The following school districts will be participating for 2025-2026 school year:
Ardsley Union Free School District
Bedford Central School District
Bronxville Union Free School District
Irvington Union Free School District
Pelham Union Free School District
Rye Neck Union Free School District
Yorktown Central School District
