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The Ulster County Legislature has approved a new law to implement a countywide school bus stop-arm safety camera program, aiming to enhance student safety. School districts can choose to participate through an intermunicipal agreement with the county. The program will use AI-powered cameras from BusPatrol America LLC to detect and document vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses.
County Executive Jen Metzger highlighted the frequent illegal passing of school buses, which endangers children. Legislator Debra Clinton, chairwoman of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, emphasized that the cameras are a proven method to increase safety and change driver behavior. "It does raise awareness and ultimately improves the safety for all students who rely on school buses each day," Clinton said, as reported by Mid Hudson News.
The program involves no out-of-pocket costs for the county. BusPatrol will cover all technology and installation expenses, while the county will manage the review process. Violations captured by the cameras will first be reviewed by BusPatrol, and then by a technician from the county Department of Emergency Services to determine if a violation should be issued. Initially, only warnings will be issued for the first 30 days, after which fines will be imposed.
Despite the program's safety intentions, it has faced criticism for lack of transparency regarding the AI technology used. Brooklyn-based attorney Joseph Aron has filed legal actions challenging the transparency of BusPatrol's operations, as noted by Kingston Wire. Metzger stated that the primary goal of the program is public safety, not revenue generation, and any excess funds will support traffic safety initiatives.
The program is modeled after successful implementations in neighboring counties like Orange and Rockland. Metzger assured that a webpage will be created to explain the process to the public, ensuring fairness and transparency.