New stop-arm cameras have captured 50 violations so far

According to Northeast Dubois Schools Superintendent Bill Hochgesang, since the cameras were installed before the school year started last year, 50 stop-arm violations have been caught.

This has led to more than 30 citations being issued and two class misdemeanors being filed against drivers. Citations are given at the police officer’s discretion and misdemeanors are filed if the prosecuting attorney’s office feels they can prove the driver was reckless, said Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Quinn.

According to Hochgesang, most violations occur because of drivers’ lack of attention.

While tickets and misdemeanors have been filed against drivers who disregard bus stop arm signals, the cameras on 14 school buses across the county have also helped school officials in other ways. The cameras have highlighted ways in which school bus drivers can better serve the students riding their buses.

“It’s been really good data for us to have to train our bus drivers,” Hochgesang told the council Monday evening. “We are going to use some of our bus footage in training sessions with out bus drivers this summer.”

Councilman Craig Greulich, who drives a bus, admitted the cameras have helped identify problematic bus stops.

Hochgesang also gave the council a run-through on how the cameras work.

The cameras are activated by the bus driver when they notice a vehicle passing them. Once activated the camera captures pictures of the front and rear of the vehicle as well as the driver. The camera marks the time of activation and the bus driver can then work with the school resource officers to begin the investigation process.

After declining to fund the first 14 cameras, the council added $13,200 to the 2021 budget to cover the cost of six cameras for the school corporations. There are 88 buses in the county and the school corporations would like to have all of them equipped with stop-arm cameras over the next few years. There are plans to add up to 20 more before the next school year begins.