BusPatrol Program

In 2020, Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 364 (now Act 38), allowing Pennsylvania school districts to implement violator-funded school-bus safety programs. This law empowers districts to use automated enforcement, such as school bus cameras, to catch and penalize drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. The goal is to enhance student safety and hold reckless drivers accountable.

In October 2023, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed an amendment to 75 Pa. C.S. § 3345.1, which improves the process for contesting automated enforcement violations. The amendment strengthens due process protections and provides clearer guidelines for drivers who wish to contest fines for failing to stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing. For more details about the updated legislation and how it impacts drivers, read PennDOT's announcement on the topic.

When a vehicle illegally passes a school bus with its red lights flashing, a camera on the bus captures the violation, including the car's license plate. The footage, along with GPS and time data, is securely sent to a cloud system, where artificial intelligence (AI) helps identify possible violations. A trained safety specialist then reviews the footage, and if it shows a potential violation, an evidence package is created for law enforcement, including the video, vehicle details, and GPS information, per state law.

Law enforcement reviews the evidence and issues a citation to the vehicle owner if the instance is deemed a violation. The owner is mailed a notice with instructions for payment, which can be made online, by mail, or in person. Vehicle owners can also contest the violation through the local court system.

Motorists must stop for a school bus when its red lights are flashing and the stop sign is deployed. Here are the key rules to follow:

• Stop at least 10 feet away from the bus.
• Stop behind, in front of, or at an intersection where the bus is stopped.
• Stop if traveling alongside or following a bus, and do not proceed until the red lights stop flashing and all children are safely off the road.
• If there's a physical barrier (like a grassy median, guide rails, or concrete barriers) separating traffic, vehicles in the opposite lane do not need to stop.
• Never proceed until all children have reached a place of safety.

This video explains and illustrates these important rules.

To speak to a representative about a violation, contact the BusPatrol Customer Contact Center toll-free support line at 1-800-852-7741.

• The Contact Center is available Monday-Friday (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)
• English and Spanish-speaking customer service agents are available to address your inquiries.
• To expedite our service, please have your citation number ready when you call.

Online Access:

• To view the violation video evidence online or to pay a violation by credit card, visit www.alertbus.com and enter your citation number (example: PA-777777) and vehicle license plate number (no dashes or spaces), as listed on your citation.

If you wish to contest a violation, you must request a hearing within 30 days of the notice date. Complete the form included with your notice and return it by mail or email both sides to pahearingevidence@buspatrol.com.

You can contest the violation if any of the following apply: you weren't driving the vehicle at the time, the vehicle was stolen before the violation, you weren't the owner at the time of the offense, the camera system wasn't properly tested or certified, or the system was not in compliance with the department’s regulations. Detailed instructions are on the back of the notice.