The Newport News City Council recently approved an ordinance to add video cameras to school buses.
“We’re just at the beginning of the process of ultimately having cameras on school busses,” said Kim Lee, spokeswoman for the city.
Newport News Public Schools asked the city to adopt the ordinance and hopes to find a provider to install the bus cameras, maintain them and be in charge of collecting fines, according to the agenda item summary.
This traffic violation will cost drivers $250.
“An initial portion of the 335 current school bus fleet will be equipped with the camera enforcement system, with the anticipation that more buses could be added depending on the resulting program bid and subsequent contract language,” the background information stated.
In addition, the Newport News Police Department will hire another officer whose sole purpose would be to check the cameras and see if someone did pass the school bus illegally.
Lee said the program is similar to the city’s red light cameras and the police officer would need to look at the footage to determine if a violation has occurred.
She said the fines would fund the new position and the salary of the officer will be the same as other police officers.
According to the documents presented to City Council, the remaining funds would go the school district for direct or indirect program costs.
WYDaily asked Lee about when the program will start, when the city will recruit the officer and when the school buses will add cameras.
While some of the answers to the questions are down the road, Lee added the city is not currently recruiting a police officer to fill that position.
The ordinance was approved on Jan. 14 and goes into affect after 10 days.
