Vernon Town Council Approves Use Of Traffic Enforcement Cameras On School Buses

VERNON, CT — The Vernon Town Council Tuesday approved an ordinance that paves the way for the installation of traffic enforcement cameras on school buses that could capture images of vehicles blowing through stop signs during the loading and unloading of students.

The system would also be able to impose hefty fines.

The vote was unanimous.

No timetable for the move has been announced, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary said Wednesday, but 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.

Are things that bad in town?

"We don't know how bad it is," Macary said while adding Vernon is about to find out.

While the volume has yet to be officially determined, Macary said he can pinpoint at least one reason.

"People aren't paying attention," he said. "Maple Street School is a good example. In addition to distractions inside a car, it's on a main road and there's a lot going on around the school. A $250 fine will make people pay attention."

When a public hearing before the council meeting was announced, Mayor Dan Champagne said, "People driving past school buses when the red lights are flashing is a persistent problem in Vernon and across Connecticut."

Macary complimented school crossing guard James Melo for the same sentiments. Melo said at the public hearing drivers have blown through his hand-held stop sign while he's in a crosswalk. Melo works at Maple Street School, along with Grove and King streets near Northeast School.

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

The town must discuss installation with a vendor that would oversee not only putting cameras on buses but also administering the fines.

"Any policy, law or ordinance that improves the safety of our children is worth it," Macary said.

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

"I hope it's zero because then we'd know people are stopping for the buses," he said. "But we have some spots known to be a problem, like Maple Street and on Lake Street and Skinner Road. "If we can save one child from getting hurt, then all this will be worth it."