Illegal school bus passing declines nearly 24%, report finds

Nothing is more important than the safety of our children.”

—Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins

Updated on Aug. 6, 2026 at 11:42 a.m. to clarify the description  of "close calls." 

A Westchester County program using AI-powered stop-arm cameras on school buses reduced illegal school bus passing violations by nearly 24 percent during its first full year, according to the county's 2025-26 School Bus Safety Program Annual Report.

The report found citations requiring enforcement fell 23.8 percent, from 17,867 during the 2024-25 school year to 13,621 through June 2026. Average monthly violations also declined from 1,786 to 1,513, suggesting motorists are improving compliance with New York's school bus stopping law, county officials said.

The county launched the program in October 2024 in partnership with BusPatrol. Under a 2019 state law, school districts can equip buses with stop-arm cameras that record motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses. Potential violations are reviewed by law enforcement before citations are issued.

County Executive Ken Jenkins said in a prepared statement that the results show the program is improving driver behavior and making roads safer for students, while stressing that even one illegal passing violation is too many.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our children,” Jenkins said.

The report also found that repeat offenders accounted for just 4.92 percent of citations, indicating most drivers do not reoffend after receiving a citation. About 31 percent of enforcement activity occurred at the county's 20 highest-risk locations, data officials said will help guide future safety and education efforts.

The program serves 22 participating school districts, including Lakeland, Yorktown Central, Katonah-Lewisboro and Bedford Central, along with Hendrick Hudson, Ossining, Mamaroneck, Harrison, Pelham and 13 other districts. County officials said the camera technology is installed, operated and maintained at no cost to school districts or taxpayers.

Lakeland Central School District was one of the first 11 districts in Westchester County to participate in the program and began issuing citations in November 2024. Katonah-Lewisboro School District rolled out its automated stop-arm camera program in late 2024, with installations completed through December and early January 2025. Yorktown Central School District followed, activating its program in September 2025.

Revenue from stop-arm camera violations is administered by the county and is not returned to participating school districts.

Yorktown Superintendent Ron Hattar has consistently urged motorists to stop for school buses. As of May, Yorktown’s Underhill Avenue, Route 35 and Route 202 continued to record the highest number of violations in the district, according to Hattar.

In March, Yorktown schools recorded 68 tickets and 28 close calls. In April, despite a shortened month because of spring break, 90 tickets and 24 close calls were recorded. Close calls are instances where the footage was submitted to the county for review but there was not enough evidence to issue a ticket. 

“Westchester County will continue working with its school district partners and BusPatrol to monitor trends, identify high-risk corridors and educate motorists about New York State’s school bus stopping law,” county officials said in a July 23 news release, adding that they hope “the program’s continued success will further reduce illegal passing violations and ensure every child can travel to and from school safely.”