Enforcement of school bus arm cameras underway in Buffalo

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - School bus stop arm cameras are now live throughout the City of Buffalo.

The cameras were originally launched in July with a 90-day grace period for violators, where warning letters were issued. Now that October is here, the vehicle and traffic law is in full effect with enforcement underway.

Every school bus in the City of Buffalo, nearly 600 of them, are equipped with
stop arm cameras.

"When someone passes a stopped school bus, with its arm out and red lights flashing, you are subject to a $250 fine," said Steve Randazzo, Chief Growth Officer for Bus Patrol, the company that supplied the cameras.

The fine increases by $25 for each repeated offense.

During the warning period, about 4,000 letters were mailed to drivers.

Bus Patrol has installed nearly 30,000 cameras on school buses across 16 states. Randazzo said the data is unequivocal.

"What we've seen is 90% of people who have received one violation in the mail, never repeat the offense. It's the lowest recidivism rate in all of automated enforcement," he added.

In addition, in Suffolk and Nassau Counties on Long Island, Randazzo said there's been a 20%-to-40% year-over-year drop in the behavior.

The goal, he said, is to give out no tickets, and to educate people.

The City of Buffalo receives the entire $250 fine.

"We (Bus Patrol) equipped all of the buses. We record all of the violations through AI-enabled cameras. It is then pre-screened and then it is sent to the city for another review. Every violation is reviewed by the City of Buffalo before a ticket is mailed out. Under New York State law, the municipality receives the fine," Randazzo noted.