Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara announced the approval of a measure that will allow stop arm cameras to be installed on school busses—a bill he helped pass in the New York State Assembly to identify drivers who illegally drive around stopped school buses picking up or dropping off children. Similar legislation has already been passed in 15 states.

Santabarbara has said he has personally heard from local school bus drivers in his Assembly district concerned about the increase in recent years of the number of cars illegally passing school buses with extended stop arms. According to a recent survey published by the New York Association for Pupil Transportation school bus drivers in New York State reported as many as 50,000 cars per day passing a school bus picking up or dropping off children—more than 2,000 passing on the right side, where school children board and exit the bus. Under existing law, these drivers can only be ticketed by a police officer who witnesses the violation.

“It’s hard to believe there’s such a high number of vehicles that are illegally passing school buses, putting children in danger,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara. “This bill allows the use of 21st century tools to help police enforce these lifesaving laws and it also creates awareness and responsibility. We must do all we can to ensure our children get to school safely.”