Stop-Arm Cameras

The Cherokee County School District is increasing safety for students and bus drivers by installing cameras on school bus stop-arms.

The district’s team of 450 dedicated bus drivers drive 27,500 miles a day to transport students to and from school throughout the county. CCSD bus drivers exceed state requirements for training and the transportation maintenance team holds the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Blue Seal of Excellence – a combination that illustrates the district’s commitment to student safety aboard buses.

CCSD is taking another step to advance student rider and bus driver safety. All school buses now will be equipped with the cameras to identify drivers who illegally pass buses that are stopped and actively loading or unloading students. Georgia law requires all drivers stop for a school bus when its red stop lights are flashing, regardless of direction of travel unless a physical median (concrete, grass, dirt strip) separates the lanes of a divided road.

For the state of Georgia, drivers who illegally pass a school bus when its red stop lights are flashing are issued a $1,000 citation. Violating this law is a high and aggravated misdemeanor, with a minimum fine of $1,000. Repeat violators, in addition to repeat fines, also can face insurance repercussions. The installation of a camera on the exterior of each CCSD bus will now ensure violators of this state law are identified.

“There is nothing more important than students having access to the highest quality education in the safest schools possible and our commitment to their safety extends to our school buses,” CCSD Police Chief Buster Cushing said. “The safety of students and staff is our top priority.”

A 30-day warning period begins March 30, 2026; during this period, drivers who illegally pass a stopped CCSD school bus will receive a warning notice by mail with no financial penalty.

Beginning May 4, 2026, drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus in Cherokee County will be issued a $1,000 citation by mail. When a vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus displaying its stop signal, the stop-arm camera captures video footage of the violation. The footage is securely sent to CCSD Police Department for its independent review to confirm a violation occurred. If the department confirms the violation occurred, a citation is mailed to the registered vehicle owner. More information about the citation process is available in the FAQ section of this webpage.

side of a Cherokee County School bus with stop arm camera installed — *Multiple cameras are installed on each CCSD school bus to capture images of vehicles if they pass a stopped school bus.*

The installation of these cameras was prompted by a rising rate of incidents. The CCSD Transportation department conducts an annual audit during which all CCSD bus drivers on the same day record how many drivers illegally pass their stopped bus while students are loading and unloading. During last school year’s audit, 262 drivers illegally passed CCSD’s bus drivers in one day.

The stop-arm cameras are installed at no cost to the district, as the company CCSD is partnering with, BusPatrol, keeps a portion of the fines collected. The district also receives a portion of the fines collected, and those funds will be used for safety and security investments, as required by law. As part of the installation, the company also is upgrading the interior camera system on every bus to provide better visibility for ensuring student and driver safety.

The cameras are the latest security measure directed by the Cherokee County School Board, which has made significant new investments each year to further improve safety and security on campuses and buses. The proposed budget for next school year’s increased safety and security investments includes hiring five campus crossing guards to complement those provided by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office.

“The safety of all our students has always been a top priority for the school district,” School Board Chair Janet Read Welch said. “This includes in our buildings, in car rider lines, and especially on our buses. We are excited that our buses will be using stop-arm cameras as our awesome bus drivers cover hundreds of miles each day transporting our students to and from schools. This is another way that we will keep our students safe.”

graphic of a school bus with explanation of safety features

FAQ

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

In Georgia, drivers must stop for a stopped school bus when its red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended. Drivers must remain stopped until the school bus resumes motion, or the red lights and stop arm are no longer activated. See the different scenarios in the diagram below (click the image for a larger view):

The image depicts various traffic lanes and road signs, including a two-lane road, a multi-lane paved road, and a divided highway with instructions for vehicles traveling in opposite directions.

Two-lane roads: All traffic in both directions must stop.
Four-lane or multi-lane roads without a barrier: If there is no physical barrier and no raised median—including roads with a center turn lane—all traffic in both directions must stop.
Divided highways or roads with a physical barrier:

o If the roadway is divided by a raised median, a physical barrier, or clearly indicated dividing section that impedes traffic (i.e., wide grassy media), vehicles traveling on the opposite side of the divider do not have to stop unless there is a pedestrian crosswalk or walkway present across the divider.

o Drivers traveling in the same direction as the bus must always stop.

How often do cars illegally pass stopped school buses?

The CCSD Transportation department conducts an annual audit during which all CCSD bus drivers on the same day record how many drivers illegally pass their stopped bus while students are loading and unloading. During last school year’s audit, 262 drivers illegally passed CCSD’s bus drivers in one day.

According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, an estimated nearly 40 million motorists illegally pass stopped school buses each year in the US. Every one of those incidents puts children at risk. Georgia sees the same dangerous trend. In a one-day statewide study in 2025, school bus drivers reported 8,868 illegal passings—the equivalent of 1.5 million violations over a typical 180-day school year.

These numbers highlight how common and dangerous these traffic violations are, and why stronger tools and enforcement are needed to keep students safe.

What does Georgia law say about school bus cameras?

Georgia law allows school districts to use stop-arm cameras to capture alleged violations. This legislation makes it possible for school districts and law enforcement to better enforce school bus safety laws—even when a police officer cannot be physically present to observe the violation.

Georgia has one of the highest fines for illegal school bus passing in the country, with violations carrying a $1,000 citation. The increased fine was enacted in 2024 under Addy’s Law, named after 8-year-old Adelynn Pierce, who was tragically killed when a driver failed to stop for her school bus. Read Addy’s Law here.

How does the school bus safety program work?

We have equipped every bus in our fleet with advanced safety technology, including stop-arm cameras. These cameras activate when red lights are on and the bus's stop arm is extended. The camera is designed to detect when a vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus during active loading and unloading of students.

Cherokee County School District police can monitor every violation and issue a citation that holds drivers accountable for violating the law and putting students at risk.

Over time, the program helps change driver behavior, reduce illegal passings, and protect children as they go 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 Cherokee County School District Police Department for their independent review to confirm a violation occurred.

3. If the Police Department confirms the violation occurred, a citation 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.

How does the program educate drivers and promote safer behavior?

The use of stop-arm cameras combines education and enforcement to change motorist behavior and promote a culture of awareness and responsibility around school buses.

Before the start of the program, we will be running a public awareness campaign to inform motorists about this new enforcement initiative. The public awareness campaign includes a 30-day warning period, media coverage, and community outreach with the goal of education to change driver behavior before the bus safety program officially starts.

We are also dedicated to the continuous education of our community about school bus safety to ensure safer roads for everyone.

How is my privacy protected?

The stop-arm cameras used on school buses are designed only to capture vehicles that illegally pass a stopped school bus during active loading or unloading. The enforcement cameras activate only when the bus’s stop arm and red lights are deployed, representing student loading or unloading.

Footage of potential violations is securely stored and used solely for reviewing for potential citations. It can only be accessed by authorized personnel for the purpose of determining whether a violation occurred, and it is retained only for the period required by law. The system is focused on one thing: improving student safety while respecting the privacy of drivers and families.

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

In all counties in Georgia, the fine is $1,000 for each violation. Citations are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle and include a link to the AlertBus Driver Education Portal, where the owner can review the evidence and learn more about the law. Data shows that over 90% of first-time offenders never repeat the violation after seeing the evidence—a strong sign that education changes behavior.

How can I pay my citation?

Instructions for payment are included in the citation. You can pay online at www.alertbus.com, where you will need to enter your citation number and license plate.

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. Please be advised for online and phone payments, credit card transactions will incur a processing fee.

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

What should I do if I lose my citation?

What if I can’t afford to pay the penalty?

What if I wasn’t the one driving the vehicle at the time of the offense?

In Georgia, school bus stop-arm citations are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, not the individual driver. If you were not the person driving at the time of the violation, you should have two options per the statute:

Testify under oath in open court or submit to the court a sworn notarized statement that you were not the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation. The testimony or statement should identify the name of the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation.
Present to the court a certified copy of a police report showing that the vehicle had been reported to the police as stolen prior to the time of the alleged violation.

Can I contest the citation?

Who do I contact for more 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.

Please have your citation number ready to help expedite your call. If you contact the center after hours, you may leave a message and a representative 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: AB-777777) and vehicle license plate number (no dashes or spaces).

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