School Bus Safety Program

The Grand Rapids Public Schools authorizes the use of surveillance cameras on school buses and on District property to ensure the health, welfare and safety of all scholars, employees and visitors; and to safeguard District facilities, vehicles and equipment. 

Surveillance cameras may be used in locations as deemed appropriate by the Superintendent of Schools (or designee) or Executive Director of Public Safety (or designee) but shall not be used in locations where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

The District shall notify scholars, Parent(s)/Guardian(s) and employees through handbooks, information guides, and/or other means of communication that surveillance may occur on school buses and on District property. Scholars or employees in violation of Board policies, administrative directives, school rules or law shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Illegal activities of scholars, employees or others shall be referred to appropriate law enforcement.

Scholars or employees who vandalize, damage, disable or render inoperable surveillance cameras and/or equipment shall be responsible for such losses, damages and costs, and shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action and referral to appropriate law enforcement authorities.

Video, and/or audio recordings may become a part of a scholar’s educational record or an employee’s personnel file. Video, and/or audio recording may be released to Law Enforcement, and may be used in a criminal investigation when such images may aid in the investigation. No video or audio recording shall be released to any scholar, Parent/ Guardian or employee. Video recordings may be released to third parties or applicants in conformance with the provisions contained in the Freedom of Information Act, Public Act 442.

The District shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws related to recording, maintaining and retaining video recordings. Only the District or school administrators, public safety/security officers and members of the police shall have access to video monitors while they are in operation. Records should be viewed on a need to know basis only, in such a manner as to avoid public viewing.

*Parents will not be allowed to view video.

Source: GRPS Scholar Resources and Responsibility Guide

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. Michigan sees the same dangerous trend. In a one-day statewide study in 2025, 3,153 school bus drivers reported 2,207 illegal passings—the equivalent of nearly 400,000 violations over atypical 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.

In Michigan, drivers must stop at least 20 feet away from a stopped school bus when its redlights are flashing. Drivers must remain stopped until the school bus resumes motion, or the visual signals are no longer activated. See the different scenario sin the diagram below:

• 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: 
  • If the roadway is divided by a raised median, physical barrier, or clearly indicated dividing section that impedes traffic, 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.
  • Drivers traveling in the same direction as the bus must always stop.

Michigan law allows school districts to use stop-arm cameras to capture alleged violations, and a 2024 update now enables citation revenue to be shared with districts to help support these safety programs. Under the law, footage from stop-arm cameras can be used as evidence, and drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus may receive a civil citation with a maximum fine of $500.

This legislation makes it possible for school districts and law enforcement to better enforce school bus safety laws—even when a police officer is notable to be physically present to observe the violation.

Through the School Bus Safety Program, we have equipped every bus in our fleet with advanced safety technology, including stop-arm cameras. These cameras detect when a vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus. 

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 law enforcement for their independent review to confirm if a violation occurred.
3. If law enforcement confirms the violation, 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.

The School Bus Safety Program 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 are partnering with BusPatrol to run an extensive public awareness campaign to inform motorists about this new enforcement initiative. The public awareness campaign includes a 30-day warning period, press 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.

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

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 scholar safety while respecting the privacy of drivers and families.

In Michigan, the penalty for illegally passing a stopped school bus is a civil penalty between $100 to $500. 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 from BusPatrol programs shows that over 90% of first-time offenders never repeat the violation after seeing the evidence—a strong sign that education changes behavior.

If you have misplaced your citation, please contact the AlertBus Customer Service Center at (877) 504-7080 for further assistance.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and are unable to pay the civil fine in full, contact the AlertBus Customer Service Center at (877) 504-7080. They can assist you in arranging a payment plan to help manage the cost of the citation if a payment plan is available in your region.

In Michigan, 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 follow the instructions printed on your citation.

The citation allows the registered owner to either:

• Admit responsibility with an explanation by mail or through a hearing, or
• Deny responsibility by requesting a hearing. 

No additional forms are required. All information on how to admit or deny responsibility is in the instructions on your citation.

If you receive a citation, you can contest the violation by following the instructions on the second page of the citation.

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 through 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).

Links and Resources for More Information

• NASDPTS Stop-Arm Violation Count
• Michigan State Police School Bus Safety