What Are Bus Stop Arm Cameras and How Do They Improve School Bus Safety?

School bus safety is a growing concern for districts across the country. AI-powered stop-arm camera technology helps communities reduce illegal passing, protect students, and improve compliance with school bus safety laws.

What Is a Bus Stop Arm Camera?

Every school day, millions of children board and exit school buses across the country. While these buses are designed with safety in mind, one alarming risk remains: drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus. In fact, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) estimates that more than 43.5 million illegal passings occur each school year in the U.S., based on national survey data collected from school bus drivers.

Bus stop arm cameras are a powerful, technology-driven solution to this persistent threat. These AI-powered camera systems automatically detect, record, and help enforce violations when a vehicle passes a stopped bus with its stop arm extended. They provide school districts and municipalities with an efficient, accurate, and scalable way to enforce stop-arm laws and protect children during their most vulnerable moments—boarding and deboarding.

To dive deeper into the detection process, AI capabilities, and how violations are captured, check out our guide on how bus stop arm cameras work.

Why School Bus Stop-Arm Enforcement Is Critical

Illegal school bus passing isn’t just a traffic violation, it’s a life-threatening behavior. Students are most at risk not while riding the bus, but while crossing the street to get on or off. With distracted driving on the rise, enforcement at every bus stop is nearly impossible for law enforcement alone.

As highlighted in School Bus Fleet Magazine, “Drivers often witness distracted motorists blatantly ignoring stop arms, even while students are crossing.” Programs like Stop Guard™ are designed to close the enforcement gap and protect students where human monitoring falls short.

That’s where automated stop-arm enforcement plays a critical role. By combining consistent monitoring with evidence-based citations, these programs dramatically reduce dangerous driving behavior.

According to Verra Mobility’s program data, 98% of drivers who receive one citation never receive a second, a clear indicator that this technology doesn’t just catch violations; it prevents repeat offenses.

Learn more about the reasons school districts are investing in bus stop arm camera programs and how they’re seeing measurable safety improvements.

How Bus Stop Arm Cameras Improve Safety

Stop arm camera programs are more than deterrents, they’re safety tools that work. Here’s how:

• Automated enforcement ensures every stop is monitored, without relying on the bus driver or law enforcement to capture evidence.

• AI-enhanced detection ensures only true violations are captured, reducing false positives and helping citations stand up to legal scrutiny.

• Behavioral change is measurable. Fewer repeat violations means safer roads for all road users, especially students.

The result? A safer environment for students and a more compliant, educated driver population.

Discover how AI enhances accuracy and safety in Verra Mobility’s Stop Guard™ system by reducing false positives and improving citation integrity.

Camera Technology and Coverage

Modern stop-arm camera systems use a suite of advanced tools to ensure violations are recorded clearly and completely, including:

• High-resolution cameras that capture license plate details in all lighting conditions

• Infrared (IR) illumination for nighttime enforcement

• Radar and motion detection to accurately identify moving violations

• Strategic camera placement on the driver and passenger sides of the bus

Systems like Verra Mobility’s Stop Guard™ are designed to work in any environment, from rural backroads to busy urban school zones.

Find out where school bus cameras are located and what they can capture, from vehicle license plates to wide-angle views for complete coverage.

Legal Landscape: Where Bus Stop Arm Cameras Are Allowed

Laws allowing school bus stop arm cameras vary by state. Some states have statewide legislation enabling their use, while others require local authorization or are still considering policy changes. Although stop-arm camera laws differ from state to state, all 50 states prohibit passing a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended while students are loading or unloading.

Navigating these legal differences is critical for a compliant and successful program. Verra Mobility works directly with school districts and municipalities to ensure full compliance with state and local regulations, offering guidance on permitting, data handling, and enforcement procedures.

Curious about how your state handles stop-arm camera enforcement? Explore our breakdown of bus stop arm camera regulations by state.

Verra Mobility’s Turnkey Solution: Stop Guard™

Verra Mobility’s Stop Guard™ program offers an end-to-end, violator-funded solution that eliminates complexity and upfront cost.

Key features include:

• AI-powered detection and automatic evidence capture

• Installation, testing, and ongoing maintenance are handled by Verra Mobility

• Citation printing, mailing, and payment support

• Court and legal support for citation validation

• Public education campaigns to raise community awareness

• Advanced analytics to measure safety impact and compliance

With over 30 years of experience, Verra Mobility is a trusted partner to hundreds of government agencies, providing smart enforcement solutions that scale with your district’s needs.

Let’s Build a Safer Tomorrow

Illegal school bus passing is preventable—and now, enforceable. Verra Mobility’s Stop Guard™ program gives communities the tools to protect students, change driver behavior, and build a culture of compliance and safety.

If your district is ready to enhance student safety with a proven, violator-funded solution, get in touch with our team to request a demo of Verra Mobility’s Stop Guard™ program.