There is nothing inherently wrong with using stop-arm cameras on school buses.

We have seen, both locally and across the state, that too many drivers either don’t know the rules of the road designed to keep children safe while they’re on school buses or simply don’t care about those rules and disregard them.

It’s important to keep children safe while they’re on the bus and while they’re getting on and off the bus. In our opinion the stop-arm cameras provide a valuable service.

But it’s equally important that the stop-arm cameras be fair to drivers. And right now they aren’t.

State. Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Bethlehem, is circulating a co-sponsorship memorandum for legislation to address complaints from drivers in the Lehigh Valley who say implementation of the stop-arm camera enforcement program has created problems for drivers. LehighValleyNews.com reported earlier this year more than 1,000 drivers have appealed stop-arm camera citations in 2025 with no hearings held. The state DOT told the news agency that there are cases from 2024 that haven’t been heard yet. Boscola proposes a new series of fines: $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $300 for a third or subsequent violation within a 12-month period, as well as allowing law enforcement to issue a $300 fine for egregious first-time violations, such as passing a stopped school bus at high speed or while children are visibly in the road. Boscola also wants to establish an appeals timeline so that cases are heard quickly.

We’re not sure the fine schedule needs to be revised. Again, the goal of the stop-arm cameras should not be to drive new revenue, but to make sure drivers behave properly around school buses. Reducing fines doesn’t accomplish that goal. But speeding up the appeals process simply must happen. No technology is infallible, and a driver shouldn’t be fined if they didn’t do anything wrong.

The state has a legitimate interest in making sure children are safe on school buses. But that interest has to be accomplished fairly. The state Legislature should take up Boscola’s bill – ideally before the start of the next school year.