Monroe County Steps Up Fight Against Illegal School Bus Passing

With thousands of students preparing to return to classrooms, Monroe County officials are launching a new public awareness effort aimed at reminding motorists of one of the most important rules of the road: When a school bus stops with its red lights flashing, drivers must stop, too.

The “Spot the Stop” campaign is being rolled out ahead of the 2026-27 school year as local officials seek to reduce the number of motorists illegally passing stopped school buses and putting children at risk while they are boarding or exiting buses.

The campaign comes as Monroe County continues expanding its School Bus Safety Program, which uses cameras mounted on school buses to record vehicles that pass buses while their stop arms are extended and red lights are flashing.

The numbers collected since the program began suggest illegal passing remains a significant problem.

During the 2024-25 school year alone, more than 8,500 citations were issued to motorists for passing stopped school buses in participating Monroe County districts. By July 2025, more than 13,300 citations had been issued since the camera program began in October 2023.

The program has continued to grow.

By January 2026, Monroe County reported that more than 16,000 citations had been issued since the program's launch. Brighton and Pittsford joined West Irondequoit, Spencerport, Hilton, East Irondequoit, Webster and Greece in participating in the county initiative.

The “Spot the Stop” campaign seeks to attack the problem through education as well as enforcement, encouraging drivers to recognize when a school bus is preparing to stop and to be alert for children who may be entering or crossing the roadway.

Under New York State law, motorists approaching a school bus displaying flashing red lights must stop whether they are approaching the bus from the front or from behind. The requirement applies even on multi-lane and divided highways — a provision that can sometimes cause confusion among drivers accustomed to different rules in other states.

Motorists should also be prepared to stop when a school bus activates its flashing yellow lights, which signal that the bus is preparing to stop.

For vehicles caught through Monroe County's stop-arm camera program, a first violation carries a $250 civil penalty, with increased penalties for subsequent violations within an 18-month period.

County officials have argued that the camera program is intended primarily as a deterrent rather than a revenue-generating measure. The program is funded through fines collected from violators and does not impose a cost on participating school districts or taxpayers, according to Monroe County.

The sheer number of violations, however, illustrates the challenge officials face.

Greece Central School District alone accounted for 5,222 citations during the 2024-25 school year, according to county figures. East Irondequoit recorded 1,492, Webster recorded 1,389 and Hilton recorded 453. Greece school transportation officials said at the time that the district was seeing roughly 28 citations per day, although they also reported signs that violations were declining.

The upcoming school year will therefore provide another test of whether enforcement combined with public education campaigns such as “Spot the Stop” can change driver behavior.

The message to motorists is straightforward: flashing yellow lights mean prepare to stop; flashing red lights and an extended stop arm mean stop completely and remain stopped until the lights are turned off and the bus begins moving again.

With school buses soon returning to Monroe County roads in large numbers, officials are urging drivers to slow down, eliminate distractions and give themselves additional time during morning and afternoon commutes.

For students stepping on or off a school bus, officials say a motorist's decision to wait a few extra seconds can make the difference between a routine trip to school and a potentially life-changing tragedy.