Regarding the issue of placing cameras on school buses to catch passers, as described recently in The Cheshire Herald, let me first say that the safety of our children is of utmost importance. Secondly, let me say that our public officials using terms such as "no-brainer," "ridiculous," and "astounding" is most unbecoming and offensive. These terms appear intended to humiliate, insult, and intimidate those who hold opposing views and that is totally unnecessary.
I'm opposed to the cameras but I prefer a more rational look at the issue and I see several problems.
To begin with, and most disturbing, is this quotation from the article: "The company also received approval from the State Legislature to administer the tickets as long as they receive the go-ahead from the local police...." To me it is "ridiculous and astounding" that any town official, including police, would seek to cede ticketing authority to a privately run outside company. Even if a police officer must review video evidence in question per ticket, what's missing is the officer's live observance of the event (passing the bus) which might color his decision whether a ticket should be issued at all. For example, if the bus driver activated his lights when an oncoming car was too close to stop safely. On video that might look like a malicious pass while an officer's live observation might see it otherwise and not even make a traffic stop, let alone issue a ticket. There are other reasonable examples.
Also, the article mentions a test with a borrowed camera-equipped school bus. Cited is an average of 1.5 passes per day. That sounds like a lot. What's missing is how many passes were from behind the bus--going around it when the bus was clearly embarking or disembarking students--and how many were by oncoming traffic. That's germane. Also missing from the article is how many total miles all buses in town drive on all routes on a given day. That's pertinent information as well. It's got to be in the hundreds of miles per day, maybe close to 1,000.....with only 1.5 passes per day on the test bus which may or may not have been deliberate. And we can't extrapolate from the test an accurate average of total passes per day. For example, if there are 20 buses total in operation every day, times 1.5, it is wholly unbelievable that 30 times a day in Cheshire a motorist passes a stopped school bus. That simply defies credulity. And then the best case scenario is the Town MIGHT reap $126 per pass? Don't forget, a ticket doesn't guarantee the fine is paid. Tickets are routinely dismissed in court and fines reduced.
The article also makes no mention of the official Police Department position on the issue.
On a personal note, I've driven over one million miles in my life and I've raised 2 kids in Cheshire. I want nothing but the safest possible conditions for everyone on our roads. All things considered, this just seems to be an unnecessary and misguided endeavor designed to make a little money for a private company and even less for the Town.
And so what if it doesn't cost the Town anything? There's plenty of stuff in life which is free but we don't do.
