Buses to get license plate cameras
Buses used by Daniel Boone School District students will be equipped with cameras that will help catch motorists who don’t stop for school buses.
The district is teaming up with the company BusPatrol to install automated enforcement technology on buses that will detect the license plates of vehicles that fail to stop for them. That information will then be shared with local law enforcement so citations can be issued.
The license plate detection technology includes installing a high-tech camera on the stop-arm of buses that display stop signs. They will go into use this month.
When a school bus is stopped to pick up or drop off children, motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from the bus with red lights flashing and stop-arm extended. The penalty for a first-time violation is $300.
It is expected that the cost of buying, installing and maintaining the cameras will be covered through five years of violation revenue.
The district contracts with Krise Transportation for bus services. The company has agreed to have the equipment installed on its buses.
Dr. Brett Cooper, Daniel Boone superintendent, said health and safety is one of the district’s five areas of priority focus. And that includes making sure kids can safely get on and off buses.
“The cutting edge technology that BusPatrol offers allows for our students and families to feel safe while utilizing the transportation contracted services that the district provides for their children,” he said in a release announcing the initiative.
Kate Spree, a spokesperson for BusPatrol, said the idea behind the initiative is to keep kids safe and educate motorists on how to act around school buses.
“This latest partnership with Daniel Boone School District will improve safety for children by reducing the number of times motorists blow past stopped school buses,” she said. “Our safety program is focused on educating drivers to effectively correct motorist behavior over time.”