Likely Target For Bus Cameras In Vernon Is Next School Year: Officials

VERNON, CT — Now that the The Vernon Town Council has approved an ordinance allowing for the installation of traffic enforcement cameras on school bus stop arms that could capture images of vehicles blowing through stop signs during the loading and unloading of students, the system will likely be employed for the next school year at the earliest, officials said Wednesday.

That's the target at least. The system is designed not only to catch offenders, but to impose hefty fines.

The council vote was unanimous.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary said Wednesday that the work, for practical purposes, would take place during the summer maintenance period.

"That makes the most sense after the town contracts with the camera company," he said.

Vernon Town Administrator John Kleinhans said talks with a contractor are ongoing.

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 draft ordinance can be found here.

A trial period during which drivers are made aware of their transgressions but not fined usually kicks off the campaign.

"It's to let drivers know the system is in place and the fines are set to begin," Macary said. "We're looking forward to it because if we can save one child from getting hurt — or prevent drivers from going through bus stop signs — then the program works.

It has certainly worked in New Haven. Information from the city shows that, within the first 10 to 14 days of the program, 945 violations were reviewed and approved. Starting March 2, 2026, automated $250 tickets will be issued there for violations.

Macary had said the preliminary estimates are for 40 potential tickets per month in Vernon. Typical problem areas are on the opposite side of a bus on Route 83 (yes, vehicles must stop across all four lanes), the bottleneck curve on Route 83 near Scranton Motors, the Maple Street-Union Street intersection, Skinner Road, Grove Street, King Street and Lake Street.

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