Vernon Council Approves Contract For Traffic Enforcement Cameras On School Buses

VERNON, CT — With a contract in place with an installation company, traffic enforcement cameras could be featured on local school buses for the beginning of the next school year.

The Vernon Town Council Tuesday approved a contract between the town and BusPatrol America. The bidding process was waived since the company is considered a single source for the equipment.

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In February, the council approved an ordinance that paved the way for the installation of traffic enforcement cameras on school buses that could capture images of vehicles blowing through the bus stop signs during the loading and unloading of students.

The system would also be able to impose hefty fines.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary has said the ordinance allows the town, consistent with state law, to contract with a company to install a camera-based enforcement system on school buses and assess a $250 fine when vehicles pass school buses when red lights are flashing.

A copy of the ordinance can be found here.

The enforcement system will "make drivers pay attention" Macary has said.

Are things that bad in town?

Mayor Dan Champagne has said, "People driving past school buses when the red lights are flashing is a persistent problem in Vernon and across Connecticut."

Motorists must stop at least 10 feet from a school bus when its red lights are flashing, Vernon Police Chief Marc Petruzzi has said.

Macary has said preliminary estimates show the potential of 40 tickets per month.

Known problem areas are Maple Street and on Lake Street and Skinner Road.

The program is essentially zero-cost for taxpayers with BusPatrol America imposing and collecting fines for a percentage.

Installation time frames need to be worked out with the bus company, officials said.