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Albany, New York, is introducing a new school safety program aimed at protecting students as they get on and off school buses. The initiative, announced today, involves a collaboration between the city, local school districts, and BusPatrol, a safety technology company. The program will equip school buses with stop-arm cameras to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped buses.
According to Albany County, these cameras will help identify violators by capturing their license plate numbers. Violators will face fines starting at $250, with penalties increasing for repeated offenses. This program is part of a broader effort to enhance student safety, as data shows that drivers in New York State illegally pass stopped school buses an estimated 50,000 times per day.
The Ravena-Coyemans-Selkirk Central School District is among those participating in the program. The district has already equipped its buses with the BusPatrol Safety Platform, which includes stop-arm enforcement cameras. Initially, violators will receive warning notices by mail, with live ticketing set to begin on Monday, October 6, 2025.
The City School District of Albany has also partnered with BusPatrol to implement this technology. As reported by the district, the stop-arm cameras will go into effect on Monday, September 15, with fines being issued starting October 20. This initiative is designed to reduce the number of vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses, thereby enhancing the safety of students across the city.