Newton Approves School Bus Camera Program to Fine Illegal-Pass Drivers $250

NEWTON -- September 3, 2025, Newton greenlights school bus cameras to catch illegal-pass drivers under new state law. The Public Safety and Transportation Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to authorize participation in a program established under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 71, which the governor signed in January 2025. Newton Police Captain Dan Devine presented the proposal, noting the city's fleet of 34 to 41 buses would be equipped with exterior cameras that activate when a bus stop arm extends. Fines of $250 per first offense would go to the vehicle's registered owner, with the vendor, likely Bus Patrol, receiving roughly $50 per processed violation and the city retaining the remainder. Devine cited a Bus Patrol pilot in which seven buses recorded 975 violations in a single month, and Salem data showed more than 661 illegal passes in about six weeks. The program carries no projected upfront cost to Newton; if fine revenue falls short of vendor fees, those fees would be waived under terms described in preliminary discussions.