New Stop-Arm Bus Cameras Aim To Enhance Student Safety In Colts Neck

COLTS NECK, NJ — The Colts Neck Township School District is taking the next step in student safety by installing stop-arm cameras on its school buses.

Mounted on the side of each school bus, these cameras automatically activate when the stop-arm is extended, capturing images and video of any vehicle that illegally passes while students are boarding or exiting the bus.

According to a presentation from Colts Neck Transportation Coordinator Nicole Orozco and Colts Neck Police Officer Nicholas Tomaio, once information from the vehicle violation is gathered, it’s emailed to the Colts Neck Police Department, along with an image of the vehicle.

Police will then issue a summons to the registered owner of the vehicle, which requires a mandatory court appearance. If at any time someone else besides the registered owner is driving the vehicle, the owner will be questioned about the driver who committed the violation.

The bus driver will also have to fill out a witness statement that’s sent to the district’s office from the Colts Neck Police Department. In most cases, a bus driver is required to appear in court.

According to the presentation, the standard penalty of this traffic violation is a minimum $250 fine and five points on a license. In most cases, officials said violators will try to plead the violation down, which usually results in a higher fine but a lesser charge.

The goal of installing these cameras is to deter dangerous driving behavior and enhance student safety, Colts Neck Board of Education VP Phyllis Camera told Patch.

While camera installation on district school buses began the week of Oct. 13, the initiative has been in discussion since August and led by Chair of Building & Grounds and Safety & Security, Kevin Walsh.

“The safety of our students is always our top priority,” Walsh said. “Stop-arm cameras add an extra layer of protection, holding drivers accountable and helping ensure that every child can get on and off the bus safely each day.”

According to district officials, the cameras were installed on their buses by Safe Fleet, a company that specializes in school bus safety technology and whose systems are designed to capture critical safety incidents while improving overall fleet management.

The total cost for the installation of the stop-arm cameras was $20,945.30 and was funded through the current year’s transportation budget, Camera told Patch.

The district was able to offset the expense because it secured a more favorable market price for new bus radios that had been budgeted and purchased for the 2025-26 school year.

Additionally, Camera said the district’s Transportation Coordinator, Nicole Orozco, has contacted the vendor to confirm whether there are any recurring or residual annual costs associated with the bus arm cameras. Once that information is received, it can be shared.

Since the new stop-arm cameras were installed, Colts Neck has issued eight tickets related to violations, with four issued in October and four issued in December, Camera said.

The district’s transportation staff is working closely with Colts Neck Traffic Safety to report incidents and monitor outcomes related to the reports filed by the district, officials said.

To learn more about transportation in the Colts Neck School District, you can click here.

A letter from Superintendent Dr. MaryJane Garibay about the stop-arm cameras can also be read here.