LENOX — Following several recent incidents involving motorists passing stopped school buses, the Select Board has voted to support a state law allowing the use of bus stop-arm cameras to record license plates of violators.
Adopted by the state Legislature in January 2025, it was described as “an emergency law necessary for the immediate preservation of public safety.”
“Let’s get ‘em,” Select Board Chairman Max Scherff said at the meeting televised by CTSB-TV and available for viewing on demand.
Board member Neal Maxymillian pointed out that he had witnessed drivers bypassing buses stopped with their red lights on.
He cited the new state provision allowing police to cite drivers who violate the law, noting that the cameras would not record anything other than the license plate numbers. The camera’s footage would be used to issue citations even when a police officer is not present.
Motorists would face a citation, a fine and notation on their driving record, but it would not be considered a moving violation that would cause insurance premium surcharges.
“There’s nothing more important than the safety of kids getting on and off buses,” Select Board member Marybeth Mitts said. “If there was even somebody bumped, that would be unacceptable.”
Schools Superintendent William Collins told the board he had consulted with Police Chief Mark L. Smith to make sure he was on board with the policy after the new chief had checked with an attorney for the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.
Collins said that the camera only activates when a school bus stop-arm is extended when lights are flashing during a student pickup or drop-off.
“It would only capture a license plate if it’s an illegal pass,” he said. “I think anything we can do to deter folks from illegally passing school buses would be beneficial.”
In a letter to the Select Board prior to the meeting, Collins wrote that “the safety of students traveling to and from school must remain one of our highest priorities. Unfortunately, illegal passing of stopped school buses continues to occur and presents a very real danger to children boarding or exiting the bus.”
Collins stated that he had witnessed two vehicles pass a stopped school bus with red lights flashing and stop-arm extended, while students were boarding. “Incidents like this underscore the need for additional tools to deter this behavior,” he wrote.
The Select Board voted unanimously to support the state law, as did the School Committee previously. Because it’s a local “opt-in” law, it now requires approval by voters at a town meeting, Collins told The Eagle.
The town traditionally holds a special town meeting in late November or early December.
The School Department is in the final year of its contract with Dufour Tours of Hinsdale for four buses that already include inside cameras.
A request for proposals issued for the next contract would require stop-arm cameras, Collins noted.
According to the state law, any town or city adopting the provision can contract with a private vendor to install and operate a school bus violation detection system.
Two months ago, Pittsfield launched a pilot program, installing a stop-arm cameras on one of its school buses to record license plate numbers of violators. Following a 30-day warning period, first-time offenders can be fined $250 while second-time violators may get a $500 fine.
Also at the May 20 Lenox Select Board meeting, Chairman Max Scherff welcomed new member Jared Weber to the board and thanked David Roche for his 15 years as a Select Board member.
Weber won a three-year seat and Scherff was chosen by voters for his second three-year term at the annual town election on May 11.
As part of the annual turnover, Marybeth Mitts was chosen to succeed Scherff as chair of the board.