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School Transportation News Magazine is published by STN Media Group
A reader expresses his thoughts on an article published online titled “School Bus
Stop-Arm Cameras Unfair, Dallas Motorists Say” (
stnonline.com/go/ax), which describes a recent class action lawsuit filed by Dallas motorists in opposition of Dallas County Schools using school bus cameras to identify and ticket illegal passers:
“...(I)t irritates me when motorists
blow through the sign. Especially with no attempt to stop. We can’t always catch a driver’s plate as they drive by. Would you have the same attitude about feeling you were violated had you hit/killed a student. It’s disgusting that you feel you were wronged for being caught doing something illegal and stupid. Pay the $300 and maybe pay attention next time. In Ontario the fine can be up to $2,000. I have had to go to court twice, it’s amazing the excuses motorists try to use.” —Dustyn Reid, First Student Driver Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
In response to an online article that details Texas legislation seeking to prohibit school bus stop-arm cameras (
stnonline.com/go/aw), an online reader writes that the issue of illegal school bus passing will remain a pressing safety issue for children with or without school bus stop-arm camera prohibition:
“As a director of transportation in a Texas school system I do not have cameras on our buses, but we are looking into it. People do not stop for our buses when red lights are flashing. Law enforcement does what it can but does not have the resources to follow every bus. We no longer allow the children to cross the road in front of the bus as we almost had a child hit by a motorist who refused to stop. I will use whatever means possible to help insure the safety of our children.” —Bill E.
In another STN online article, “EPA Fines Massachusetts School Bus Com- pany for Excessive Idling” (
stnonline.com/go/ay), NASDPTS Executive Director Charlie Hood comments that not all states are equal when it comes to federal penalities.
“As a longtime proponent of environmental protections myself, there is some unfortunate irony in this situation. Te only states in which operators and companies are subject to EPA penalties for excessive idling are those that have adopted state regulations prohibiting the practice. States like my home state of Florida that have no such requirement in their state plans receive a “get out of jail free” card. Our office worked with our state environmental agency a few years ago to adopt reasonable idling reduction regulations for school buses and other commercial vehicles, but they were subsequently rescinded as part of a deregulation edict from Florida’s governor.” —Charlie Hood, Executive Director National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services
8 School Transportation News • MARCH 2018
Publisher Tony Corpin
Editor Ryan Gray
Associate Editor, Digital Claudia Newton
Assistant Editor Nathan Tuvalu
Technical Editor Robert T. Pudlewski
Senior Designer Kimber Horne
Graphic Design Maria Molina
Creative Consultant Vincent Rios
CONTRIBUTORS: Linda Bluth, John Whelan, Ned Einstein, Art Gissendaner, Julie Metea, Eric Woolson, Barb Fasing, Debbie Curtis, James Romeo
Vice President Colette Paul
Ad Sales Tony Corpin
Circulation Andrea Dugmore
Events Manager Sylvia Arroyo
Events Coordinator Alice Hung Sabedra
Chairman of the Board Bill Paul, STN Media Group
5334 Torrance Blvd., 3rd Floor, Torrance, CA 90503
Tel: 310-792-2226 Fax: 310-792-2231
stnonline.com
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD:
Tim Ammon, TransPar Group of Companies Marshall Casey, Consultant Denny Coughlin, Consultant Launi Harden, Washington County (UT) School District Pete Meslin, TransPar Group of Companies Alexandra Robinson, New York City DOE Michael Shields, Salem- Kaiser (OR) Public Schools
HOW TO WRITE OR E-MAIL STN
SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION NEWS welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and are subject to editing for grammar, style and space. Submissions must be legible, include a signature, job title/employer name, valid mailing and/ or e-mail address, and telephone number. Unsigned letters or letters signed only with a pseudonym or initials will not be used. Email letters to: sean@stnmedia. com or
ryan@stnmedia.com or send via U.S. Post to: School Transportation News P.O. Box 789, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
The views and opinions in School Transportation News are those of the editorial staff. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the members of the Editorial Advisory Board or their organizations. Individuals serving on the board are advisors only and are not responsible for the editorial content.
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