School bus stop-arm cameras in Bronxville and Eastchester are part of a Westchester County program that recorded a 23.8% drop in illegal passing violations in its first full year, according to a county report released Wednesday, July 22.

The county's 2025-2026 School Bus Safety Program annual report found that citations requiring enforcement fell from 17,867 during the 2024-2025 school year to 13,621 during the 2025-2026 school year. Average monthly violations dropped from 1,786 to 1,513. The decline came even as the program nearly doubled in size, expanding from 12 districts to 22, which suggests per-bus violation rates fell more sharply than the headline number indicates.

Both the Bronxville Union Free School District and the Eastchester Union Free School District participate. Eastchester was among the original 11 districts that began issuing citations in November 2024. Bronxville joined for the 2025-2026 school year.

County Executive Ken Jenkins said the results show the program is changing driver behavior and making roads safer for students. The county will continue working with districts and its camera vendor, BusPatrol, to monitor trends and educate motorists ahead of the fall 2026 school year.

When a bus stops and extends its stop arm, automated cameras activate and record vehicles that pass illegally. Each potential violation is reviewed by law enforcement before a citation is issued. The technology is installed, operated and maintained at no cost to school districts or taxpayers. Revenue from citations is administered by the county and is not returned to participating districts.

Only 4.92% of citations involved repeat offenders, the report found. That figure suggests most drivers do not reoffend after receiving a single ticket.

The report also identified geographic patterns: about 31% of all enforcement activity is concentrated at the county's top 20 locations. The county said that data will guide future safety and education efforts along high-risk corridors.

Under New York State law, a first offense for passing a stopped school bus carries a fine of $250 to $400. A second offense within three years costs $600 to $750, and a third jumps to $750 to $1,000. Jail time is possible. Drivers ticketed through the camera program do not receive points on their license, though a separate state DMV change in February 2026 raised the point penalty for a traditional in-person conviction to eight points.

The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee estimates 50,000 vehicles illegally pass school buses statewide every day.

Residents who witness dangerous driving near school buses can report it to the Bronxville or Eastchester police departments.