Grant will pay for school bus stop-arm cameras

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Schools and bus companies across Minnesota have been given $3.5 million in grant money to outfit school buses with stop-arm cameras.

The Minnesota Legislature has awarded the grants to 32 schools and bus companies to purchase and install the cameras and buy supporting software programs.

According to the state Department of Transportation, Minnesota was seeing more than 1,000 stop-arm violations a year before the coronavirus hit and altered busing schedules.

State law requires motorists to stop when a school bus driver extends a stop arm and activates flashing lights.