A MORE WATCHFUL BUS STOP

Newport News drivers who illegally pass may be caught on camera

Six Newport News school buses equipped with cameras to catch drivers who disregard the buses’ stop signals caught more than 700 violators in about four months in 2016.

The City Council is considering making those cameras permanent fixtures to some city buses.

The details about how many buses would have cameras and where those buses will be still would have to be ironed out, but the council plans to vote on a resolution to allow the cameras at its Jan. 14 meeting.

David Freeman, the assistant to the city manager, said the city hopes the cameras will deter drivers from illegally passing stopped school buses.

Shay Coates, director of transportation for the schools, said he’s hoped for years to have cameras on buses. He said he doesn’t know how many buses would have cameras, but the schools would prioritize areas that are more prone to violations.

Freeman said the places that see the most violations are on Jefferson

Avenue approaching Fort Eustis and on Jefferson around 40th Street.

Freeman said the cameras should not create additional strain on police. The city’s early plan would be to add an officer role that is focused on the bus cameras to avoid taking any officers off the street. The fines garnered from the bus cameras would be used to fund that new position and other costs of enforcement, Freeman said.

Extra revenue could also go to the schools, he said.

Much of the work associated with the cameras, such as installation and reviewing footage, will fall to the selected vendor, Freeman said. The dedicated officer will also review the footage before charging a person.

The civil penalty for violating stop arm laws is a $250 fine.

Seven cities in Virginia have the cameras, and Virginia Beach is the only Hampton Roads locality with them.

The basics

Virginia law requires drivers to stop when approaching a school bus that’s stopped or preparing to stop to load or unload children, unless the driver is going the opposite direction from the bus on a divided road with a median or barrier.

ROB OSTERMAIER/STAFF Newport News is considering installing cameras on their school bus fleet to deter drivers from passing the vehicle when it is stopped to pick up and drop off students. A pilot program with cameras on three buses caught over 700 vehicles violating the law and buses with their red lights flashing.