New Camera Technology On Altoona School Bus
By: Cody Combs
Updated: September 17, 2012
As students return to school in the weeks ahead, drivers will start seeing school buses again.
It's the law. When school buses stop to let students on and off the bus, drivers must stop.
"Those buses are discharging and picking up students," said Altoona Police Sergeant Frank Shields. "We don't want those students to get hit or killed."
Although there's a $250 fine and a 60 day license suspension for not stopping for a loading or unloading school bus, some still take the risk, break the law, and don't get caught.
With new camera technology, not getting caught just became a little harder.
On the side of Altoona school bus driver Joe Eckel's bus, there's a set of 3 cameras that activate when the vehicle's 'STOP' sign flips open.
Thus far, the new cameras have been very effective at catching those who refuse to stop for school-buses.
"Believe me the last one we caught, you could see the guy's face on one of the views and his license on the other," said Eckel.
The Altoona school district currently only has one set of the cameras, but the cameras can be easily moved from bus to bus.
The school district is looking at possibly buying more of this particular camera system, and other systems like it in the future.
