Indiana House Back Camera Enforcement Plan for School Bus Stop Arms

House Bill 1042, which now goes to the Senate, permits public and private schools that operate bus fleets to contract with camera-enforcement companies that will install cameras on school bus stop-arms and photograph motorists failing to stop when a bus is picking up or dropping off children. Evidence of an alleged stop-arm violation would be reviewed by a local police officer, who would issue a citation to the vehicle owner demanding payment of a civil fine of $300 for the first violation, $750 for the second within five years and $1,000 for a third violation. That money would be divvied up among the camera company, schools and police, instead of being deposited in the state's general fund like most traffic violation fines. Every region representative, except state Rep. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, voted in favor of the proposal. School bus stopping requirements Indiana law requires motorists traveling in both directions on all two-lane and most four-lane roads to stop when a school bus puts out its stop arm, which typically is accompanied by flashing red lights. The only exception is a four-lane road divided by a median, then just vehicles traveling the same direction as the school bus must stop.