VESTAL, NY (WSKG) - New York drivers who pass a stopped school bus can now be caught on camera and fined.
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill today. It lets school districts put cameras on their buses. These cameras can catch the license plates of drivers who pass a bus while it is stopped.
"No parent should ever have to worry that their child's bus ride to and from school is anything other than safe and easy," Cuomo said. "By signing this measure into law, we are providing school districts the tools they need to hold reckless drivers accountable.”
The goal is to crack down on drivers who pass a stopped school bus. State data shows that an estimated 50,000 drivers do this each day.
New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta thanked lawmakers. "This law marks a significant step forward for student safety," he said.
About 1.5 million students ride school buses every year in New York.