School Bus Cameras Deployed (Photos & Video)
Five Montgomery County school buses rolled out on the morning of Jan. 2 equipped with automated cameras to photograph and ticket drivers who pass stopped school buses with flashing lights.
And, it happens more than you think. According to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Transportation Director Todd Watkins, an annual one-day survey of the county’s school bus drivers found an average of 1,200 incidents a day. Watkins said that amounts to about an incident per bus driver.
The automated enforcement program will expand to a total of 25 buses in the next month. When the program is fully implemented, officials said a total of 100 buses will be pre-wired for the cameras so they can be rotated among the bus routes for selective enforcement.
At a press event today, Montgomery County Police Captain Tom Didone stressed that, “paint does not protect the kid” and “if in doubt…. slow and stop.”
In this video (below), Didone explains there are three types of drivers who pass a stopped school bus with flashing lights.
In case you are wondering, the cameras are linked directly to the Montgomery County Police Department. Drivers caught passing a school bus by the automated cameras will be fined $125. The fine does not does not escalate with repeat offenses.
If a police officer tickets issues a ticket to a motorist for passing a stopped bus, the fine is $525 and three points.
Officials said the cost to the county for this program is $250,000 per year, with a contract that includes an equipment lease.
The initial five bus routes were selected based on data from several sources, including that an annual survey of bus drivers.
County officials are trying to increase awareness for motorists to stop when a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing. For more information, see the photos and the flyer below:
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School Bus Cameras Deployed (Photos & Video)
Five Montgomery County school buses rolled out on the morning of Jan. 2 equipped with automated cameras to photograph and ticket drivers who pass stopped school buses with flashing lights. And, it happens more than you think. According to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Transportation Director Todd Watkins, an annual one-day survey of the county’s […]
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