School Bus Violations Falling In Middletown Twp.

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The Middletown Township Police Department said it has seen a steady decline in violations since cameras were added on Neshaminy school buses.

The police department posted a new update after 30 school days have passed since the last time it provided details about the Bus Patrol program.

Police said that when the program first started, the department was issuing about 10-11 citations a day.

At the start of the year and into early February, citations averaged about eight a day.

Police said that citations being issued each day now stand at seven.

"Hopefully, the public messaging is working to reduce these numbers each month and increase awareness," police said. "Please be patient while waiting for buses to load and unload, they are carrying our most precious cargo."

Neshaminy school officials said that all 102 buses are equipped with advanced photo enforcement technology to identify vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses.

The partnership with BusPatrol provides police departments with videos of when school children are boarding and exiting school buses each day.

Video evidence of alleged violations is sent to the police department where the incident occurred.

Each department — Middletown Township, Lower Southampton Township, Langhorne Borough. Langhorne Manor Borough, Humeville Borough, and Penndel Borough — reviews the video and determine whether a civil citation should be issued.

Drivers found in violation will face a $300 fine.

Other communities that use BusPatrol technology have seen violations drop by more than 40 percent.