Buffalo Common Council contemplates cameras on school bus stop arms

"If we're looking at this being a revenue-driven thing, and not necessarily about the safety of children, it's problematic. It's something that I can't sign on for"
School bus
School bus Photo credit Brayton J. Wilson - WBEN

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A resolution that would authorize approval of a contract to install cameras on school bus stop arms in the City of Buffalo could be passed at the next regular Buffalo Common Council meeting.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is seeking council approval on a contract between the city's traffic violation agency and Bus Patrol America, a company that would install cameras on the Buffalo Public School District's entire fleet of 634 buses, with the goal of the catching impatient motorists passing stopped school buses and fining them, in order to ensure safety of students coming to and from school.

The City of Buffalo would also stand to generate millions of dollars in revenue for imposing fines. This proposal reminds Buffalo Common Councilman Rasheed Wyatt of when the city installed cameras in school zones, a venture that accrued $2 million dollars for the City of Buffalo in a week. That program was quickly shut down.

"The school zone cameras show me something, and I'm very leery when it comes to that," said the councilman. "I do know that it is a problem that people are driving through school buses with the arm out. That is unacceptable, and we can't allow it for tragedy to occur. But the other part is, if we're looking at this being a revenue-driven thing, and not necessarily about the safety of children, it's problematic. It's something that I can't sign on for."

This resolution will come to the attention of the council's Legislation Committee this Tuesday. If passed, it would then go to the whole body of the council on Sept. 19.

Councilman Wyatt wants his questions addressed before he votes for the contract gets authorized.

"I don't think that we've been told about what the fines will possibly be. I think there's still some questions that my colleagues would probably have, moving forward with this. We need more details. But for me, it just boils down to how it is administered. Right now, I know people are still fighting to get their refunds for the school zone cameras. Is there going to be a fight for someone if there's a mistake? I don't know if this system will allow for a mistake, if someone doesn't [pass] through a school bus. We need to ask those questions."

The Niagara Falls School District installed cameras on their school buses years ago, with great success. Fines have since been reduced, which means the cameras are effective, according to Niagara Fall Mayor Rob Restaino in a WKBW-TV interview.

Councilman Wyatt believes this resolution will be passed.

"From what I've heard from a few people who know, they think it's going to pass and go to the full council. That's probably what's gonna happen. But again, who knows, tomorrow's another day, people might give us [new] information and [others] may have an enlightenment like I do, but they may be okay with it because at the end of the day, most of us are really into the safety of our children."

Featured Image Photo Credit: Brayton J. Wilson - WBEN