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Fairfax County is deploying stop-arm cameras on school buses after its fleet recorded 1,453 illegal passing violations in a single day.

Fairfax County Public Schools launched the School Bus Arm Camera Program this month to protect students boarding and leaving buses. Cameras mounted near each bus’s extendable stop arm will capture vehicles that drive past while the bus is stopped.

The system records video and license plate images, allowing authorities to mail warnings or citations to vehicle owners. Law enforcement will review the evidence before approving each warning or Notice of Infraction.

“Our new stop arm camera initiative will remind motorists of their responsibility to drive responsibly and keep students safe,” School Board Chair Karl Frisch said.

Starting April 9, cameras will operate on 50 school buses assigned throughout the county. Drivers caught during the first month will receive warnings. Beginning May 12, approved violations will carry a $250 fine.

Online responses have been mixed. Some residents criticized the monthlong warning period, while others raised concerns about speeding buses or welcomed stronger enforcement.

“Glad to see this as no one hardly ever stops on Guinea Rd in the mornings for the school bus,” one Burke-area driver said.

School buses remain a comparatively safe way for children to travel, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. From 2013 through 2022, crashes involving school transportation vehicles killed 111 occupants—50 drivers and 61 passengers. More than 20 million students ride school buses.

The agency cautioned, however, that children face greater risk while approaching or leaving a bus.