HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has launched its updated Program Guidelines for School Bus Side Stop Signal Arm Enforcement Systems. This comprehensive guide, intended to increase public understanding and participation, details the hearing process, vendor instructions, and essential reminders concerning the operation of enforcement systems.
These systems represent a progressive step toward the enforcement of Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law. The law, recently updated by Act 19 of 2023, allows school districts to install and operate automated camera systems on school buses as a tool for increasing the safety of Pennsylvania’s school-going children.
When a vehicle violates the School Bus Stopping Law, the camera system captures the offense, and the evidence is reviewed by the police who are in agreement with the school district. Following this, the school district may issue a violation to the vehicle owner, which includes a $300 fine. Importantly, these violations are civil penalties and will not add demerit points to the driver’s license.
Act 19 of 2023 also introduces an amendment to title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. This amendment further strengthens the enforcement of the rule that vehicles must stop for school buses with flashing red lights.
Another significant change introduced by Act 19 allows vehicle owners to contest liability for these violations. Owners can now request a hearing with a PennDOT hearing officer to dispute their fine — a process that is free of cost. This change fosters a more accessible and equitable system compared to the previous method, which required owners to pay civil filing fees to contest liability with a magisterial district judge.
The advent of Act 19 demands additional transparency from involved schools, who are now required to submit an annual report detailing their activity with the enforcement systems. This data, to be provided by July 1 every year, must include the number of buses equipped with side stop signal arm enforcement systems, the number of violations issued, the fines imposed and collected, and other data points. PennDOT and Pennsylvania State Police will create a report that will be posted on the schools’ publicly accessible website by December 31 each year.
Data collected from Operation Safe Stop 2023 revealed that on one day alone, law enforcement agencies reported 176 violations of the School Bus Stopping Law. This figure highlights the necessity of the upcoming enforcement regulations and the importance of educating the public about the law.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll emphasized the crucial role that the public plays in this initiative, stating, “This program is about increasing the safety of children riding school buses across the state. Please stop for — and never pass — stopped school buses with their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. The safety of our children is in your hands.”
The fines collected from the enforcement program serve a valuable purpose. Of the $300 fine, $250 is used to support the school district where the violation occurred, $25 is given to the primary police department that reviewed the offending evidence, and $25 is returned to PennDOT for the School Bus Safety Grant Program.
This Grant Program aids in promoting school bus safety, education, and training. It also helps cover costs associated with individuals earning their commercial learner’s permit, commercial driver’s license, or school bus endorsement, hence encouraging more potential drivers to securely transport Pennsylvania’s students.
Overall, Pennsylvania’s Act 19 is a significant stride toward safeguarding the state’s school-going children. By deploying technology, prioritizing transparency, and fostering accessibility for citizens, the state has created a robust system for improving school bus safety, ensuring every ride is a safe one.
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