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Bus Safety

school bus stopped with activated lights

The school bus safety program is here to protect students on the ride to and from school.

Virginia Beach City Public Schools, the Virginia Beach Police Department, and our third-party vendor, BusPatrol America, LLC, are working together to ensure the safety of students and staff on school buses throughout the city. Each day, students rely on school buses to get to and from school safely. Unfortunately, drivers illegally passing stopped school buses continues to be a serious issue nationwide, putting students in danger.

To help keep our students safe and continue our school bus safety program, all of our school buses are now equipped with AI-powered cameras that detect when a vehicle unlawfully passes a stopped bus. The recorded evidence is reviewed by law enforcement, and if a violation is confirmed, a citation is issued to the vehicle’s registered owner.

The goal of this safety program is to reduce reckless driving around school buses and make roads safer for everyone. Data shows that over 90% of first-time violators do not repeat offend, highlighting the program’s potential to change driver behavior and create a culture of awareness and responsibility around the yellow school bus.

image of school bus stopped on different style roads showing the law for stopping on those roads

Preliminary data from Virginia Beach City Public Schools' school bus camera program shows that our buses have been illegally passed more than 13,000 times between November 2024 and February 2025. These violations put students at risk, creating the potential for close calls or even tragic accidents.

This issue extends beyond our community. According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), more than 45 million vehicles illegally pass stopped school buses across the country each year. The latest data from the 2023-2024 school year shows an increase from 43.2 million to 45.2 million illegal passes, underscoring the growing concern.

These numbers serve as a critical reminder of the importance of stopping for school buses. By working together to increase awareness and enforcement, we can help ensure safer journeys for our students.

picture of a car passing a school bus with a stop sign activated

 

How can I pay the citation?

Pay Citation

car passing a bus with stop sign activated

 

View violation video

Online Access

Contact Information:

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

The Contact Center is available Monday- Friday (8 am – 5 pm).

  • English and Spanish-speaking customer service agents are available to address your inquiries.
  • To expedite our service, please have your citation number ready when you call.