On Friday, September 19, the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District held a press conference alongside Albany County Executive Dan McCoy to officially announce the launch of the BusPatrol safety program, a major new initiative aimed at enhancing student safety during school bus transportation.
The event marked the beginning of a partnership between RCS, Albany County, and BusPatrol, a company that provides cutting-edge technology to enforce school bus stopping laws. The program equips school buses with automated stop-arm cameras that can detect and record vehicles that illegally pass when a bus is stopped to pick up or drop off students.
“In today's age of distraction, too many drivers ignore flashing yellow and red lights. This partnership gives us the tools to better protect our most precious cargo and make our roads safer for everyone,” said Craig Chandler, RCS Superintendent of Schools. “We’re grateful to Albany County for recognizing that student safety is a shared responsibility, and we look forward to implementing this enhanced safety system across our fleet.”
Why It Matters
Passing a stopped school bus isn’t just illegal, it’s dangerous. Every day, drivers who fail to stop put students at serious risk. Through the BusPatrol program, these violations can now be identified and enforced using camera footage, encouraging safer driving behavior around school buses.
County Executive Dan McCoy emphasized the importance of this initiative at the press conference: “This is about ensuring that every child gets to and from school safely. By holding drivers accountable, we’re sending a strong message that our children’s safety comes first.”
A Community Commitment to Safety
The BusPatrol program comes at zero cost to the school district and taxpayers, as the program is entirely violator-funded. Live ticketing will begin on Monday, October 6, 2025. Per New York State law, violations captured by the stop-arm cameras are treated as civil offenses, and fines are issued to the vehicle owner, not the driver. The minimum penalty is $250. Driver’s license points or insurance rates cannot be affected through the stop-arm camera civil enforcement.
RCS joins other districts across Albany County in adopting the technology, creating a more unified and proactive approach to student safety.