???????????????????????????????????????Three school buses in Chilliwack are testing a new camera system, designed to catch drivers not stopping when the flashing stop arms are deployed. There are a handful of districts in the country that have them, and they’ve also been utilized in some US states.  Chilliwack School District Manager of Transportation Shane Merriman says the amount of surveillance on the buses is increasing.

“The systems have developed over the years…originally there were only 2 cameras inside the bus.  Now you’ll see up to 5 cameras inside of the bus and then they also now have cameras that are mounted on the side of the bus near the stop-arm location.  Those cameras will catch vehicles that are running the lights and the other ones of course are for recording activity inside the bus.”

The cameras, which were designed by an Abbotsford company called Gatekeeper, will collect the license plate number of the person breaking the law, and can send it to local law enforcement. As of right now, it’s being tested, but the province hasn’t passed a law yet that allows the footage itself to be used as evidence. Right now, the bus driver still has to get that license number and fill out a form.

The current fine in BC for not stopping for a school bus is $167.
It’s believed that every day in North America, 15 million drivers ignore those warning lights.