School Bus Cameras Lead to More Tickets for Some Virginia Motorists
More than 5,000 drivers have been caught on camera and fined for illegally passing Richmond Public Schools buses.
RICHMOND, Va. — The stop-arm cameras on Richmond Public Schools buses have caught thousands of drivers illegally passing stopped buses in Richmond, WWBT reports.
RPS officials told the news source that 5,474 drivers were ticketed during the 2017-2018 school year — the first full school year the buses were equipped with stop-arm cameras.
Since implementing the cameras, the district has brought in a total of $957,117 in fine revenue, according to WWBT. Each $250 fine was reviewed by a Richmond police officer, before being sent in the mail, the news source reports.
The fine revenue is currently paying off the bus camera company BusPatrol America, which installed the cameras on 100 RPS school buses, at no charge, WWBT reports. Once the camera equipment is paid off, RPS will then receive 40% of the fine revenue, according to the news source.
RPS officials told WWBT that 130 of the district's school buses still need stop-arm cameras.
David Poirier, the president of BusPatrol America, wrote an email to the news source stating that about 98% of drivers who pay their fines don’t receive a second violation. Poirier added that the fines are an effective solution because drivers learn that there are consequences for violating school bus stop-arm laws.
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