The Nassau County Legislature has approved three measures clearing the way for launching the county’s school bus stop-arm camera enforcement program—a cornerstone of ongoing efforts to better protect school children and families from reckless drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses.
(Photo courtesy of the Nassau County Legislature, Minority Caucus)
These actions mark the culmination of a process that Nassau County Legislators Siela A. Bynoe and Arnold W. Drucker first embarked upon in the fall of 2019. At that time, they co-introduced and secured unanimous approval of a measure to opt into a state law that permits the installation of the stop arm cameras on school buses to record drivers in the act of breaking the law.
Measures approved by the full Nassau County Legislature will:
– Authorize retaining American Traffic Solutions (d/b/a Verra Mobility) to install the cameras for participating school districts that opt into the program (172-21, approved Monday, July 12)
– Establish a 60-day, no-penalty warning period to educate motorists (212-21, approved Monday, June 28)
– Set fines thereafter at $250 for a first violation and $275 and $300, respectively, for second and third/subsequent violations committed within 18 months of the first bus-camera offense (172-21, approved Monday, July 12); and
– Prohibit the imposition of the County’s so-called ‘public safety fee’ and ‘driver responsibility fee’ atop the already steep fines for violations (177-21, approved Monday, June 28).
This action is consistent with the Minority Caucus’ advocacy against the imposition of similar administrative fees on red-light camera tickets as a revenue-generating measure under then-County Executive Edward Mangano.
“Through these actions, I am confident that the Legislature has established the framework for a robust driver safety initiative that will protect the safety of Nassau County’s children and families,” Bynoe said. “I thank Legislator Drucker for his partnership on this endeavor and am pleased that this common-sense technological tool will soon be deployed across our County to deter drivers from making reckless—and potentially deadly—decisions on the road.”
“Nassau County has declared in one clear and unified voice that it has zero tolerance for motorists who make the dangerously selfish decision to pass a stopped school bus,” Drucker said. “Through an approach that emphasizes education, deterrence and enforcement as part of a comprehensive plan, the legislature has taken an important step toward protecting families and children in every corner of our county. I applaud Legislator Bynoe for her leadership in bringing this life-saving initiative to fruition.”
—Submitted by the Nassau County Legislature, Minority Caucus
