Over 850 stopped school bus related violations issued during 2023 – 2024 school year throughout Oneida County, Sheriff says

ORISKANY- It’s been a year since the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with a stop-arm enforcement program that provides state-of-the-art technology to effectively catch drivers who pass a stopped school bus.

In that time frame, 852 such violations were issued throughout the county, according to Sheriff Rob Maciol. “The number of school buses being passed in Oneida County is concerning as it puts the safety of the children at risk,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a released statement.

“The Sheriff’s Office urges motorists to pay close attention when they are approaching school buses – ‘Stop on Red, Kids Ahead’”.

There are 8 school districts county wide participating in the program, including:

• Holland Patent – 54 citations issued for passing a stopped school bus.
• New Hartford – 178 citations issued for passing a stopped school bus.
• New York Mills – 97 citations issued for passing a stopped school bus.
• Rome City – 77 citations issued for passing a stopped school bus.
• Sauquoit Valley – 34 citations issued for passing a stopped school bus.
• Waterville – 33 citations issued for passing a stopped school bus.
• Westmoreland – 97 citations issued for passing a stopped school bus.
• Whitesboro – 282 citations issued for passing a stopped school bus.

Locally, Holland Patent had 54 citations issued within the academic year. Meanwhile in Rome, police issued 77 citations.

These stop-arm cameras activate when buses stop to drop-off and/or pick-up students, capturing footage of any vehicles that pass illegally.

In 2019, the New York Legislature passed legislation to permit schools to equip their buses with camera technology to catch drivers who illegally drive by school buses when they stop to pick up or drop off students.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, under the law, the fine for passing a school bus ranges from $250 for a first violation, to a maximum of $1,000 for three violations in three years.

Additionally, if a vehicle owner is convicted of three violations in three years, their driver’s license can be revoked for a minimum of six months.

Up to 32,000 students in Oneida County can be transported to and from school in county school buses every day.

The Sheriff’s Office is currently working with Verra Mobility to get the remaining school districts in the county on line with cameras on their buses.

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