Monroe County’s School Bus Safety Program issued more than 6,000 citations to drivers who illegally passed stopped school buses during the 2025-26 school year, County Executive Adam Bello announced Monday.
Nearly 20,000 citations have been issued since the program began in October 2023.
The program uses stop-arm cameras on school buses to capture motorists who pass buses with flashing red lights and extended stop-arms.
Five more Rochester-area districts joined program
Five school districts joined the program during the 2025-26 school year: Brighton, Fairport, Pittsford, Spencerport and West Irondequoit.
They joined East Irondequoit, Greece, Hilton, Monroe 1 BOCES and Webster.
The districts issued the following number of citations during the school year:
The program is funded through fines collected from violations, meaning there is no cost to taxpayers or participating school districts.
New school bus safety campaign launches
As families prepare for the start of the school year, Monroe County and the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Trauma Program have launched “Spot the Stop,” an educational campaign focused on school bus safety.
The campaign uses data from the county’s program to educate drivers and families about the dangers of illegally passing school buses. Educational materials will be distributed to families in participating districts before the new school year.
Dr. Katherine Riera, a trauma surgeon at Strong Memorial Hospital, said stop-arm violations occur nearly 30 times each school day in Monroe County.
What drivers need to know
New York law requires drivers to stop for school buses displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop-arm. The requirement applies to vehicles approaching from either direction and regardless of the type of road.
Drivers caught by the cameras face a $250 fine for a first offense, with increased penalties for subsequent violations within 18 months.
All suburban school districts in Monroe County are eligible to participate in the program. The City of Rochester and Rochester Central School District operate separate programs that began in November.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Monroe County school bus cameras issue 6,000-plus tickets. Which districts had the most?
Reporting by New York Connect Team, USA Today Network / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By New York Connect Team, USA Today Network | USA TODAY Network
