School bus camera bill gets county’s OK

Districts can install cameras to catch reckless drivers

The Albany County Legislature unanimously passed two laws Monday evening, one banning smoking in some apartment buildings and the other on school bus cameras.

The school bus law established a program that allows the county to work with school districts to install cameras to catch drivers who ignore school bus stop signs when buses are picking up or dropping off students.

It will apply only to school districts that are not entirely contained within a city, but allows those local governments to pass similar legislation.

The state authorized counties to create the programs under a 2019 law. The cameras can be installed on buses or at pick-up and drop-off locations. The law also allows the county to fine drivers who are caught ignoring the stop signs.

County Legislator Matthew Miller, who sponsored the legislation, called it a commonsense solution.

“This is a win-win for all parties and I encourage eligible school districts in the county to join with us in this important partnership,” Miller said. “Drivers passing stopped school buses is a way too common occurrence and I believe this bill, combined with strict enforcement, will become a deterrent to these impatient drivers who put so many lives at risk every day.”

The fine for a first violation will be $250; it escalates with subsequent offenses. The legislation also requires the county to take measures to protect the identity of any passengers, pedestrians or cyclists who might be inadvertently caught in one of the photos.

The smoking legislation is meant to protect residents from secondhand smoke and bans smoking or vaping in common areas of multi-unit dwellings.