Prince George School Bus Safety Program

Keeping Our Students Safe on the Road

Prince George County Public Schools is dedicated to ensuring student safety not only on campus, but throughout their journey to and from school. By partnering with BusPatrol, the division strengthens its commitment to school bus safety by addressing illegal passing and increasing awareness of traffic laws. This collaborative effort supports safer roads, responsible driving, and greater peace of mind for families across our community.

A collage of images, including a school bus with its stop arm in focus, a sign denoting a school zone, and young students outside of a school bus.

Every year, nearly 40 million motorists illegally pass stopped school buses in the US, putting students at risk as they travel to and from school. These illegal passing incidents can result in tragedy—it’s crucial that we work together to reduce reckless driving around school buses and make roads safer for our students.

To combat this issue, we’ve partnered with Prince George County Police Department and BusPatrol to launch a new school bus safety program. Through the program, our fleet of 10 buses are now equipped with cameras powered by artificial intelligence to detect when vehicles break the law and fail to stop. This evidence is shared with Prince George County Police Department for review, and if a violation has occurred, a notice of violation is sent to the registered vehicle owner.

Our Goal
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.

Frequently Asked Questions
These frequently asked questions offer important details about school bus safety practices and enforcement efforts. Together, these measures support safer roadways and help protect Prince George County Public Schools students every day.

How will the school bus safety program work?

Through the program, we have equipped every bus in our 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, Prince George County Police Department 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.

A graphic outlines the steps for enforcement of the yellow school bus stop arm.

As outlined in the graphic above, when a vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop sign extended, the stop-arm camera captures footage of the violation. From there, the footage is securely sent to law enforcement for review to confirm if a violation occurred. If law enforcement confirms the violation, a notice of violation is sent to the registered vehicle owner. Data shows that 90% of first-time violators do not illegally pass a bus again, making roads safer for students.

How is the program educating motorists about when to stop for a school bus and promoting school bus safety beyond ticketing?

The school bus safety program combines education and enforcement to change motorist behavior and promote a culture of awareness and responsibility around school buses.

Throughout the program, we will partner with the Prince George County Police Department and BusPatrol to remind motorists of school bus stopping laws and to provide safety tips for students when getting on and off the bus. The education and awareness campaign will include:

Press outreach
A digital campaign with social media and web content
Distribution of educational flyers and fact sheets on school bus safety
In-classroom student education

This ongoing education and awareness campaign will continue throughout the school year to keep the community informed and help ensure safer roads for everyone.

What does Virginia law say about school bus cameras?

Virginia law allows school divisions to use video cameras on school buses to help enforce laws about stopping for buses. Schools can partner with private vendors to install and operate these cameras. If a vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus, a penalty can be mailed to the vehicle owner. The owner can dispute the violation and will have at least 30 business days to review the evidence.

For more details, you can review the law here.

When should you stop for a stopped school bus in Virginia?

In Virginia, drivers must stop for a stopped school bus when it’s red lights are flashing and the stop sign if extended, or whenever the bus is loading or unloading passengers. You should bring your vehicle to a complete stop and remain stopped until everyone is clear, and the bus moves again.

On a two-lane highway: All vehicles must stop.
On a four-lane highway with a center turn lane: All vehicles must stop.
On a four-lane highway with a median or barrier: Only vehicles behind the bus need to stop. Traffic in the opposite direction may proceed with caution.

A diagram shows each of the instances when traffic should come to a complete stop when a school bus stop arm is displayed.

For more information on school bus safety laws, refer to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

How much is the fine for illegally passing a stopped school bus?

In Virginia, the fine for illegally passing a stopped school bus is $250. If the violation is detected through a stop-arm camera, it is considered a civil penalty, with no points added to the driver's license.

The notice is issued with a link to the AlertBus Driver Education Portal to view the evidence. Data from BusPatrol programs shows that over 90% of first-time offenders do not pass a bus a second time after seeing the evidence.

How can I pay the citation?

Instructions for payment are included on your notice of violation. You can pay online with a credit card at www.alertbus.com where you'll need to enter your citation and license plate numbers.

To pay by phone, call 1-877-504-7080 and follow the automated prompts. Have your citation number and credit/debit card ready. This option is for full payments only.

If paying by check or money order, make it payable to School Bus Stop Arm Safety Program. Mail the payment form (located at the bottom of your citation) along with your payment to: School Bus Stop Arm Safety Program, P.O. Box 411472, Boston, MA 02241-1472

What should I do if I lose my violation notice?

What if I was not the one driving the vehicle at the time of the offense?

If you weren’t the driver at the time of the violation, you can submit a signed and notarized affidavit stating that you were not operating the vehicle. Be sure to include the Citation Number, your name, and address in the affidavit. The document must be notarized by a Virginia Notary. Mail the signed affidavit to School Bus Stop Arm Safety Program, P.O. Box 06002, Bloomfield, CT 06002 before the due date listed on your citation.

What if I am unable to afford to pay the citation?

Contact Information
To speak to a 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.

Online Access
To view the violation video evidence online, visit www.alertbus.com and enter your citation number (example: VA-777777) and vehicle license plate number (no dashes or spaces), as listed on your citation.