Bristol School Bus Safety Program

Data from school districts across Connecticut shows that illegal passings of stopped school buses happen alarmingly often. In one pilot study, 74 buses equipped with stop-arm cameras recorded nearly 10,000 violations in just six months—an average of more than two illegal passings per bus per day.

These numbers highlight the urgent need for enforcement and public awareness to protect students as they get on and off the bus.

Nationwide, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services estimates approximately 45 million illegal passing violations occur each year in the US.

In Connecticut, drivers must stop at least 10 feet from the front or rear of a school bus that is displaying its flashing red signal lights and remain there until the bus no longer displays the lights.

• Two-lane road: All drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a stopped school bus displaying a stop signal.
• Multi-lane road: On a multi-lane roadway without a safety island or physical barrier, all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a stopped school bus displaying a stop signal.
• Divided highway with a safety island or physical barrier: The only time traffic approaching an oncoming school bus does not need to stop is if there is a safety island or physical barrier separating the roadways.

For more information on the laws about when to stop for a stopped school bus in Connecticut, refer to CT Gen Stat § 14-279 (2024).

Through the School Bus Safety Program, we have equipped every bus in our School District's fleet with advanced safety technology, including AI-powered stop-arm cameras. These cameras detect when a vehicle breaks the law and illegally passes a stopped school bus.

By using automated enforcement, local law enforcement can monitor every school bus stop and hold drivers accountable for violating the law and putting students at risk.

Over time, the program helps change driver behavior, reduce illegal passings, and ensure children get to and from school safely every day.

1. When a vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus displaying its stop signal, the stop-arm camera captures footage of the violation.
2. The footage is securely sent to law enforcement for their independent review to confirm if a violation occurred.
3. If law enforcement confirms the violation, a Notice of Violation is mailed to the registered vehicle owner.

Data shows that over 90% of first-time violators do not illegally pass a school bus again, making roads safer for students.

The School Bus Safety Program combines education and enforcement to change motorist behavior and promote a culture of awareness and responsibility around school buses.

The program was preceded by an extensive public awareness campaign including press, social media, and community engagement to inform motorists about the change to enforcement.

This education is ongoing, and we are dedicated to making roads safer by educating our community about school bus safety to ensure safer roads for everyone.

In 2024, Connecticut passed a law allowing municipalities and boards of education to install and operate automated school bus stop-arm camera systems. These systems can be used to detect violations where drivers illegally pass a stopped school bus.

For more information, refer to CT Gen. Stat. § 14-279c (2024).

The fine for illegally passing a stopped school bus if enforced through a stop-arm camera detection system is $250 for a first offense with no license points.

Instructions for payment are included in the citation. You can pay online with a credit card at www.alertbus.com, where you will need to enter your Notice of Violation and vehicle license plate numbers.

To pay by phone, call 1-877-504-7080 and follow the automated prompts. Have your Notice of Violation number and credit/debit card ready. This option is for full payments only. Please note that online and phone payments by credit card will incur a processing fee.

If paying by check or money order, make it payable to City of Bristol, CT School Bus Safety Program and mail the payment form (located at the bottom of your Notice of Violation) along with your payment to:

If you have misplaced your citation, please contact the AlertBus Customer Service Center at 877-504-7080 for further assistance.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and are unable to pay the civil penalty in full, please contact the AlertBus Customer Service Center at 877-504-7080. They can assist you in arranging a payment plan to help manage the cost of the violation.

Details on how to transfer liability are included on your citation notice. If you're the registered owner but weren't driving, you can transfer liability by mailing a signed and notarized statement along with the name, address, date of birth, and (if known) driver's license number of the actual driver.

For rented or leased vehicles, include a copy of the rental or lease agreement and follow the same process.

Mail all documents to: City of Bristol, CT School Bus Safety Program, P.O. Box 9002, Bloomfield, CT 06002.

Requests must be received within 30 days of the citation mailing date.

If you receive a citation, you can contest the violation by following the instructions on the second page of the citation.

To speak to a representative about a stop-arm violation, contact the AlertBus Customer Contact Center toll-free at 1-877-504-7080.

• Available Monday–Friday, 8 am – 5 pm
• English and Spanish-speaking agents available
• Have your Notice of Violation number ready when you call
• After-hours callers may leave a voicemail; a service agent will return your call the next business day

To view evidence of the violation online, visit www.alertbus.com and enter your citation number (example: CT-777777) and vehicle license plate number (no dashes or spaces).

Connecticut School Bus Camera Law

NASDPTS Stop-Arm Violation Count

AlertBus