School Bus Safety Program
KEEP KIDS SAFE – IT'S PENNSYLVANIA LAW
UMSD has partnered with the Upper Moreland Township Police Department to launch a new school bus safety program!
Through this program, all UMSD buses will be equipped with new stop-arm enforcement cameras designed to detect vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses while the stop sign arm and red lights are engaged. Local law enforcement officers review the footage to determine whether to issue a violation by mail.
This technology has been provided at zero cost to UMSD and taxpayers, as the program is 100% funded through the fines that violators pay.
School bus safety across Pennsylvania
Every day, 1.3 million students are transported by more than 21,000 school buses throughout Pennsylvania. Reports show that these buses are illegally passed more than two times per bus per day.
A 47-day study of two school buses in the state was conducted in 2019. Cameras recorded 205 illegal stop-arm passes or 2.18 violations per bus per day. This is far higher than the number of citations issued by state law enforcement throughout the entire 180-day school year in 2018.
In 2020, Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 364 (now Act 38), allowing school districts to implement violator-funded stop-arm enforcement programs to enforce school bus stopping laws and ensure the safety of Pennsylvania students.
In 2021, Operation Safe Stop revealed equally alarming results. The one-day study revealed that participating school districts and law enforcement agencies reported 252 violations of the law, up from the 120 reported last year.
How does the program work?
The school bus safety program combines education with enforcement to effectively change motorist behavior over time and create a culture of awareness and responsibility around school buses.
Before the first ticket is even issued, UMSD and the Upper Moreland Township Police Department are running an extensive PSA campaign. This campaign will remind motorists of school bus stopping laws and teach children road safety tips for getting on and off the bus.
This education and awareness activity will continue even after the program is live. Child safety is important all year round.
What happens if you illegally pass a stopped school bus?
All school buses that transport UMSD students are equipped with safety technology, including stop-arm enforcement cameras. Cameras on the side of school buses help capture violation events and vehicle license plate numbers.
The violation is reviewed by law enforcement. Once approved, a notice of violation is sent to the registered vehicle owner by mail. In Pennsylvania, a first-time stop-arm violation witnessed by a stop-arm enforcement carries a fine of $300 and no points.
In addition to the financial deterrent, violators learn about the potential dangers of their actions. Offenders can call the program's toll-free number and speak with a representative, who can review the video evidence and help them understand the dangers of illegal passing. Services are offered in both English and Spanish.
Data from other safety programs demonstrates that 98% of first-time offenders do not receive a second ticket, and 95% of drivers do not contest their ticket after seeing video evidence of their violation.
How do violators receive tickets?
All school buses that transport UMSD students are equipped with safety technology, including stop-arm enforcement cameras. Cameras on the side of school buses help capture violation events and vehicle license plate numbers.
The violation is reviewed by law enforcement. Once approved, a notice of violation is sent to the registered vehicle owner by mail. In Pennsylvania, a first-time stop-arm violation witnessed by a stop-arm enforcement carries a fine of $300 and no points.
In addition to the financial deterrent, violators learn about the potential dangers of their actions. Offenders can call the program's toll-free number and speak with a representative, who can review the video evidence and help them understand the dangers of illegal passing. Services are offered in both English and Spanish.
Data from other safety programs demonstrates that 98% of first-time offenders do not receive a second ticket, and 95% of drivers do not contest their ticket after seeing video evidence of their violation.
The data relating to the incident and violation is sent via an encrypted LTE network to a secure cloud system, where it is filtered by artificial intelligence (AI) software before being reviewed by a trained safety specialist.
If the specialist determines the violation is an offense, the specialist prepares an evidence package for law enforcement. The package is built in accordance with State law, complete with video footage, license plate number, make, model, vehicle owner information, GPS location, and a timestamp of the incident.
The evidence package is sent to law enforcement partners via a secure cloud portal. Law enforcement officers review the evidence package to approve. If approved, a notice of violation is mailed to the vehicle's owner, who is legally responsible for the violation per the law. The notice is issued along with a link to the AlertBus Driver Education & Payment Portal, where they can view video evidence of their violation.
The vehicle owner makes their payment online, through the mail, or in person at a designated location within the jurisdiction. Notices of violation can also be contested through the relevant jurisdiction's civil court system.
Who to contact:
To speak to a representative about a stop-arm violation, contact the AlertBus Customer Contact Center toll-free support line at 1-800-852-7741. The Contact Center is available Monday-Friday (8:00am to 5:00pm)
English, Spanish, and French-speaking customer service agents are available to address your inquiries.
To expedite our service to you, please have your Citation Number ready when you call.
Online access:
To view the violation video evidence online or to pay a violation by credit card, visit www.alertbus.com and enter the following information: Your citation number (example: PA-777777), and vehicle license plate number (no dashes or spaces), as listed on your citation.