Every child deserves to get to and from school safely. Dutchess County’s School Bus Safety Awareness Campaign is helping make that possible – by ensuring every driver understands when to stop and why it matters.

See Red Lights? Stop the Car.

When a school bus flashes its red lights, it means children and either getting on or off – and you must stop, even if:

• You’re on a divided highway
• You’re driving on a multi-lane going in the same direction
• The stop arm isn’t fully extended

If red lights are flashing, children are nearby. Stop. Taking a few extra seconds to stop can help prevent a tragedy.

Why This Matters

• Over 43 million illegal school bus passes happen nationwide every school year
• In New York, children ages 4 to 8 make up just 35% of students, but account for nearly 70% of bus-related fatalities
• Many violations happen on multi-lane roads and divided highways, where drivers mistakenly think they don’t have to stop

About the Campaign

Dutchess County’s School Bus Safety Awareness Campaign includes:

• "See Red Lights on a School Bus? STOP THE VEHICLE" mailer to Dutchess County households (.pdf)
• "See Red Lights on a School Bus? STOP THE VEHICLE." flyers at DMV offices and shared with school districts (.pdf)
• A community event at the Hudson Valley Renegades game on August 14

Stop-Arm Camera Enforcement Details

While our focus is on education, Dutchess County operates a School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Program in partnership with BusPatrol, in accordance with New York State law. 

Buses in 11 of the 13 school districts within Dutchess County are equipped with cameras that are activated when a bus’s red lights are flashing and record drivers who illegally pass stopped buses. Citations and fines are issued to those violators.

Who Receives a Violation?

• The vehicle’s registered owner is issued the ticket based on license plate footage
• Tickets are $250 for the first offense, with a $25 increase for additional violations within 18 months (up to $300)

What to Expect if You Receive a Ticket

• You can view video evidence at www.alertbus.com using your citation number and license plate
• 94% of first-time offenders do not receive another ticket
• 95% of drivers do not contest their ticket after seeing the video

To speak with a representative or pay by phone, please call 1-877-504-7080 (Monday-Friday, 8 AM-5PM). Support is available in English, Spanish, and French.

To pay by mail, send check or money order to:

School Bus Safety Program - New York
Bank of America Processing Center
PO Box 411472
Boston, MA 02241-1472

Still Have Questions?

Email TrafficSafety@dutchessny.gov or visit BusPatrol to learn more about BusPatrol technology.

For Parents & Kids

Taking the bus for the first time is a big step. Help your child prepare with these helpful resources:

• SafeKids School Bus Safety Tips (.pdf)
• General School Bus Safety Rules (.pdf) 

Additional Safety Efforts

Operation SafeSTOP

Dutchess County supports the statewide Operation SafeSTOP initiative to promote school bus safety through education and enforcement. It's a partnership between the NYS Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, Dutchess County's Traffic Safety Board, local law enforcement, school transportation associations, and the NYS Education Department.

School Bus Driver of the Year

Every year, Dutchess County honors one outstanding individual as our School Bus Driver of the Year – recognizing professionalism, safety, and dedication to our children. The award is presented during Operation Safe Stop Week.

Recent Honoree

The 2025 School Bus Driver of the Year was Alan Barto of the Pawling Central School District. View Past Honorees.