Broome County Stop Arm Camera Program Is Closing In On 5000 Violations

Nationwide, and locally Operation Safe Stop Day was observed on April 24th (2023.) According to the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, seeks to promote school bus safety through education and enforcement efforts.

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The Traffic Safety Committee notes that approximately 50,000 motor vehicles illegally pass New York State school buses every day. That number is appalling to say the least.

Recently, the Broome County Office of Emergency Services reported that the County’s School Bus Stop-Arm Camera program has surpassed 5000 violations. Since the program began in 2021, the number of motorists illegally passing school buses throughout Broome County has totaled to 4,892.

In 2023 alone, there were 152 violations in January, 297 in February and 283 in March according to the Broome County Office of Emergency Services. The upside, if you can call it that, is the fact that violations are down 16% for this school year compared to last year.

Broome County School Buses equipped with stop-arm cameras, automatically record vehicle that illegally pass by. Fines are as follows as noted by the Broome County Office of Emergency Services:

Each initial violation comes with a $250 fine which is issued to drivers by mail; second and third violations in an 18-month period are $275 and $300 respectively. The fines are set by the New York State law which permitted local governments to create their own stop-arm camera programs.

The New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee notes that when the red lights are flashing on the top of the front of a stopped school bus, it is illegal to pass, and you must stop as you approach from the front or overtaking it from the rear. That also pertains to divided and multilane highways and on school grounds.

For more information visit Go Broome County or the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee.