Suffolk's new school bus camera law catches some motorists by surprise

When Rick Stanco got a ticket in the mail, the last thing he expected was a fine for running past a stopped school bus on a Suffolk County highway as he drove the opposite way.

"I was absolutely shocked," said Stanco, 77, of Kings Park. "I never passed a school bus in my life. I’m watching traffic in my direction and I didn’t see the bus. It stinks."

Stanco said he didn’t realize a bus on the opposite side of traffic had stopped several lanes from him while he was driving along Route 25A on May 27. He was caught on camera, as Suffolk in May started fining motorists $250 and up for running the flashing red lights on school buses.

"It would be a travesty if cars attempted to stop and we all got rear-ended," said Stanco, one of several ticketed drivers who reached out to Newsday confused about when motorists are required to stop for school buses.

The county's new safety program relies on state traffic laws and uses cameras on bus stop-arms to catch violators. Nearly 5,000 Suffolk school buses are outfitted with the cameras.

Ticketed drivers said they support the concept of the program and won't contest their tickets, but they were surprised by some of the parameters of state law.

According to state law, traffic approaching a bus from either direction must stop for a bus on two-lane roads, and divided and multilane highways. Those traveling in the same direction as a bus on a divided highway with a physical median also will be ticketed. And drivers must hit the brakes for buses on all other Suffolk roads, including highways with multiple lanes, regardless of speed or whether meeting or overtaking a bus.

The program has one exemption: It does not ticket drivers traveling in the opposite direction of a bus on a divided highway with a physical median.

Stanco and two other drivers recently provided a copy of their tickets, which showed they were fined on multilane highways. Stanco and another driver said they didn’t see the bus, while a third female driver who later declined to be identified said she saw the bus but was unsure of what to do.

Before summonses started going out, the county invested $500,000 on an education campaign, which included published ads, TV commercials, road signage and a 60-day warning period.

Dottie Simeone, 69, got a ticket in the mail for passing a stopped bus while driving in an opposite lane on Route 25A in Miller Place on Oct. 12.

"There should be more education. They have to make sure everybody is aware that you have to stop and obey red light cameras on school buses no matter what," Simeone said. "People need to be more cognizant of buses coming either way or there are going to be accidents."

Simeone said she’ll consider pulling over in a shoulder on a highway in the future because she doesn't trust everyone will follow the law.

The chief operating officer of the company that operates the camera initiative said four other states — Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Georgia —have implemented the program and none have reported any associated accidents.

"We’ve been doing this since 2017. There is absolutely no increase in collisions as a result of the implementation of these programs. It’s a myth. The amber lights flash, and there is plenty of notice for people to stop safely even at 55 mph," said Jean Souliere, the CEO of BusPatrol America, which operates Suffolk's bus camera program.

A spokesperson for the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles also said the agency has not seen evidence showing driver safety is at risk by stopping for a school bus.

Drivers who want to dispute the ticket can request a court hearing by mailing the citation notice back to the School Bus Safety Program. Payments can be made by mail, over the phone or online at www.alertbus.com

Failure to pay the fee or contest liability automatically results in a default judgment, plus an extra $25 late fee.

The summons jumps to $275 for a second offense and $300 for a third offense. More than 90% of motorists do not get a second ticket, indicating the program helps change driving behavior, Souliere said.

Virginia-based BusPatrol gets 45% of the revenue and the county 55%, to go toward school and traffic safety initiatives, including educating drivers on state laws associated with school bus safety and providing traffic safety enforcement. County funds also will be used for crossing guards, traffic control officers and other public safety positions.

Nassau County has yet to implement a program.