Rochester School Board OKs Stop-Arm Camera Program to Enhance Bus Safety

The Rochester City School District has approved a new stop-arm camera enforcement program designed to improve student safety and penalize drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses.

The Board of Education voted March 27 to move forward with the initiative, which will equip school buses with cameras that capture footage of vehicles that fail to stop when bus stop arms are extended and red lights are flashing. Violators will face fines starting at $250.

Bus Patrol's platform include cameras that harness artificial intelligence on every bus they are installed on. Captured footage will be made available to bus patrol personnel then to law enforcement.

The technology, provided and maintained by BusPatrol, uses artificial intelligence-equipped cameras installed on each bus. Captured footage will be reviewed by BusPatrol personnel and then shared with law enforcement to issue citations. The program is expected to be revenue-neutral, with collected fines covering operational costs.

Northwest District Councilmember Bridget Monroe praised the partnership between the district and the City of Rochester, citing her own experience to highlight the importance of the safety measure.

“The safety of our children is both a personal and professional priority for me,” Monroe said. “My family was personally impacted by the lack of respect for school bus loading and unloading when my son was hit by a car speeding past a stopped school bus. It is my hope that this legislation and partnership will not only make our children safer but strengthen efforts to hold violators accountable.”

Rochester joins other Monroe County districts — including Hilton, East Irondequoit and Webster — that have implemented similar programs. Those districts have reported more than 3,500 violations since adopting the technology.

Mayor Malik Evans also voiced support for the initiative, calling it a necessary step to protect students. The program is expected to be in place by the start of the next school year.

“I look forward to the implementation of this significant undertaking,” Monroe said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart to my colleagues on City Council, Mayor Evans and our partners at the Rochester City School Board for their support.”