Southampton Town Votes To Opt In To County School Bus Camera Program

It’s unlawful to pass a stopped school bus, and a plethora of posted signs tell drivers so. Still, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee estimates that 50,000 motor vehicles illegally pass school buses every day across the state. In May 2019, more than 640 drivers statewide were ticketed for illegally passing stopped school buses during “Operation Safe Stop,” a one-day enforcement effort.

This week, members of the Southampton Town Board voted to partner with Suffolk County on its School Bus Stop Arm Camera Program. The program entails the installation of stop-arm cameras on school buses to enhance enforcement of violations by capturing images of vehicles and drivers who unlawfully pass a stopped school bus.

The technology would be mounted on the bus’s “stop arm,” the part of the bus that swings out when the vehicle comes to a halt. If a motorist passes a stopped bus, the camera will snap a picture of the vehicle and its license plate number. The registered owner of the vehicle will get a violation notice in the mail, as happens with the county’s red light camera program.

The cameras would be installed at no cost to school districts and a portion of revenues collected through fines assessed would be shared with the town. Because Southampton Town is located outside the County Police district and maintains its own force, the town would need to officially “opt in” to the program, Supervisor Jay Schneiderman explained to colleagues during the board’s November 5 work session. The county will reimburse the town for any expenses it incurs in administering the program locally, and share 10 percent of any revenue from tickets coming from Southampton Town jurisdiction.

Town personnel would review any photos taken by the cameras before sending out the violations. Motorists who dispute the charge would do so in Southampton Town Justice Court.

Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni said he liked the idea of the program, but wondred if the town was ceding jurisdiction to the county.

“I think the answer is yes and that concerns me,” he said.

In 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law allowing the use of the cameras, which, like red light cameras, automatically generate tickets that are mailed to a car’s registered owner.

Fines for violators range from $250 for a first offense to $300 for a third offense committed within 18 months. Because the fine is a civil, rather than criminal penalty, there are no concurrent points assessed to the motorist’s license. By contrast, a ticket from a police officer on the scene comes with a heavier fine up to $400 and five points for a first offense and $1,000 for a third offense. Repeat offenses can result in license revocation.

With a sunset date of December 2024, the new law includes a five-year demonstration program allowing municipalities to install the cameras, provided the school districts opt in. In Southampton, the district Board of Education approved the collaboration at its last meeting on November 3.

Asked to comment on the initiative, Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Dyno wrote via email, “The safety of our students is the Southampton School District’s top priority. If approved by the Town, we hope the cameras will serve as a visual reminder for motorists to drive responsibly near our school buses and buildings.”

Each municipality that installs cameras will be required to submit reports to the governor and Legislature detailing how many fines were issued and how many cameras were installed.

As of this week, County Executive Steve Bellone reported 48 school districts across Suffolk have opted in to the program.