Cameras now on Buffalo school bus arms

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Cameras have now been installed on the arms of Buffalo's school buses. The cameras are intended to detect drivers illegally passing school buses stopped with lights flashing.

An awareness period will take place from July 1 through September 30th. During this period, violation warnings will be issued. Justin Meyers of Bus Patrol says it's the longest such warning period in New York. "The way that the program is rolled out is that there is an optional warning period for the municipality to choose to elect to opt into," says Meyers. He says divers will be warned if they commit a violation, they will not be issued a ticket.

Meyers says the buses are equipped with high definition 4k cameras that have an AI system that can distinguish between parked and moving cars. "Essentially, what it does is cut to 32nd Evidence package of all of those different camera angles to show that the violation occurred and uploads it to the cloud," explains Meyers. But that camera does not have the final say. "Humans review it, so municipal employees independently review the violation and determine whether or not a ticket should be issued." If you do get such a ticket, like any other moving violation, you can challenge it. "There'll be a coupon that you can cut out, fill in your information, mail it in and requested court date. Then you would receive a court hearing at the city of Buffalo's traffic parking and traffic parking violations bureau," says Meyers.

Meyers is confident the program will reduce such violations. "We are fortunate enough to partner with over 450 school districts across America, and we know that in our largest programs that driver behavior is curbed by as much as 40% in the first couple of years of this program operating so the data shows nationwide that when you input when a community implements a program like this, drivers do pay attention they do recognize and the Roads slowly but surely do become safer." says Meyers. He says that, not issuing tickets, is the main goal.

During the summer months, several hundred buses will be out says Meyers, taking kids to summer school or camp. Much more will be out when the school year starts in September.