Connecticut towns add automated cameras to school buses amid privacy debate

The short version

• More than half a dozen Connecticut municipalities have partnered with BusPatrol to mount automated license plate readers on school bus fleets.[Associated Press]
• The camera systems identify vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses, carrying a $250 penalty for initial offenses under a 2024 state law.[Associated Press]
• BusPatrol states the cameras activate solely when stop arms and warning lights are engaged, but privacy advocates warn the recordings could be shared with federal immigration agencies.[Associated Press]
• Governor Ned Lamont sought a 30-day moratorium on new reader deployments while a state council crafts formal guidelines on data handling.[Associated Press]

Key facts

• More than half a dozen municipalities in Connecticut have contracted with BusPatrol to deploy AI-enabled license plate readers across school bus fleets.[Associated Press]
• BusPatrol stated that the camera units activate only when a bus halts with its stop arm and hazard lights fully deployed.[Associated Press]
• In New Haven, more than 300 buses outfitted with the devices have documented 12,000 traffic violations.[Associated Press]
• Under a 2024 Connecticut legal update, first-time offenses detected by bus cameras carry a $250 fine.[Associated Press]
• Governor Lamont requested a 30-day pause on new automated reader installations while the Police Officer Standards and Training Council formulates policies.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Connecticut towns are installing license plate reading cameras on school busesAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press