Written by: Tim Tooten
Source: WBALTV 11 – https://www.wbaltv.com/article/anne-arundel-county-drivers-pass-stopped-school-buses-camera/30447339#

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —

Anne Arundel County could soon get cameras installed on school bus stop arms to catch violators.

Drivers passing stopped school buses with lights flashing have become a significant concern across the state. A new state law is giving local school systems, like Anne Arundel County, the power to help put the brakes on violators.

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education is backing County Council legislation that would allow the district to install cameras on school bus stop arms.

“The legislation that the County Council (proposed) enables us to put cameras on the exterior of our buses, and then it enables the Police Department to be able to look at footage from those cameras and determine if people have passed the bus that is stopped,” district spokesman Bob Mosier said.

There were more than 3,000 bus stop violations statewide in 2019. The violations were reported by more than 5,000 bus drivers. Almost 500 of the violations took place in Anne Arundel County, affecting 74% of its bus fleet.

“As the parent of three school-aged children, we have to do something. We can’t have police following every school bus, and citizens of this county have to understand they have to stop for those flashing lights,” said County Council Chairwoman Allison Pickard, who introduced the legislation.

District officials said funding for the cameras would come from an arrangement worked out between the county government and a private vendor.

Read the full article at: https://www.wbaltv.com/article/anne-arundel-county-drivers-pass-stopped-school-buses-camera/30447339#