Lesson Learned: County Finds Over 90 Percent Of Those Ticketed In School Bus Safety Program Don't Re-Offend

NEW CITY, NY — Once drivers are taught a tough lesson about school bus safety, they usually don't need a refresher course, according to Rockland County officials.

And it seems that the enforcement efforts are proving to be an effective deterrent as well.

Rockland County’s School Bus Safety Program saw a 30.5 percent decrease in citations issued from the start to the end of the 2024-25 school year. And,year-over-year reductions are down approximately 23 percent, with 90 percent of violators never receiving a second violation.

You can see video of recent violations here.

County officials say that the results speak for themselves, indicating that efforts are dramatically improving driver compliance.

And more importantly, helping to keep children safe as they travel to and from school.

"This program is doing exactly what it was designed to do — save children's lives by changing behavior," Rockland County Executive Ed Day ssai. "When 90 percent of violators never receive a second ticket, that tells us drivers are getting the message. Passing a stopped school bus is not just illegal — it puts our children at serious risk. These results show that enforcement, education, and accountability work.”

The program has also seen a dramatic reduction in cases dismissed. In 2024, roughly 900 citations were disposed of prior to or at a hearing without a fine. In 2025, that number dropped sharply to roughly 100 – less than 1 percent of violations.

"Public safety and due process go hand in hand," Rockland County Attorney Thomas Humbach said. "Every alleged violation captured through this program is carefully reviewed by the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office before a notice is ever issued. The minimal number of second offenses and the year over year reduction in violations demonstrates that this is a fair, accurate, and legally sound program—one that holds dangerous drivers accountable while ensuring the integrity of the process. Most importantly, it is helping to keep our children safe."

The safety program that saw "stop sign cameras" installed on school buses, has made a positive impact in ways that are not as easy to measure as well.

"At CCSD, student health and safety are top priorities," Clarkstown Central School District Superintendent of Schools Marc Baiocco said, "The school bus is an extension of our buildings, and we must do everything possible to protect our children - in and out of the classroom. Our partnership with Rockland County, Bus Patrol and local law enforcement has been a huge step forward in keeping our students safe."

Drivers caught illegally passing activated stop-arms on school buses will then be issued the following penalties by mail:

1st Violation $250
2nd Violation $275
3rd Violation $300
(within 18-month period)

Drivers who receive a liability notice can view the violation and/or pay the citation online at www.alertbus.com. You can also pay by phone or direct questions to BusPatrol at 1-877-504-7080.

"The steady decline in violations and the high rate of first-time offenders who never repeat the behavior prove that this program is making our roads safer for students, families, and entire communities across Rockland County," Day said.