The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is releasing an update to a program that encourages safe driving in school zones.
Act 19 of 2023 updated the Program Guidelines for School Bus Side Stop Signal Arm Enforcement Systems to allow school districts to install and operate automated camera systems to enforce the school bus stopping law.
Once violations identified by the camera are reviewed by police, the district may issue a violation to the vehicle owner. The upgrade permits the vehicle owner to request a hearing to contest liability before a PennDOT hearing officer at no cost to the vehicle owner.
The updated law also requires schools with an active program to submit an annual report to police and PennDOT with a version of the report posted to the school’s website.
Officials stress the importance of continuing to observe school bus side stop signal arms. Penalties can be stiff—with a $300 fine of which $250 goes to the district, $25 to the police, and $25 to PennDOT.
