Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) partnered with the Virginia Beach Police Department and BusPatrol on March 10, 2025, and set out to supply all school buses with AI (Artificial Intelligence)-powered stop-arm cameras.
“Yes, the AI cameras do help; however, people will keep on doing what they are doing, but since people are getting ticketed faster, it might result in a change…putting less pressure on the police officers,” a VBCPS bus driver said.
An AI-powered stop-arm camera is an artificial intelligence systematic machine that identifies vehicles illegally passing a school bus.
The device has cameras with a 55 degree field-of-view and another camera with a 180 degree field-of-view.
Once footage is taken, it is uploaded to a cloud system managed by BusPatrol, who are the camera providers.
“It is not a bad idea, of course the camera eye in the sky helps. Is the juice worth the squeeze? Will we reap the benefits? Footage will become a crucial piece,” assistant principal James Imbriale said.
The cloud system utilizes AI to scan through the footage and depict any possible violations. After the cloud system is done, the footage is sent to the Virginia Beach Police Department for review where violations are confirmed and then sent out to the vehicle owner.
The overall purpose of the cameras was to remove stress off the bus driver from manually activating recording. This provides a safer environment for school bus riders and ensures drivers get held responsible for their illegal actions.
“In sixth grade, as I was entering the bus, a white SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) rapidly turned the corner. I almost got hit, and it frightened me. ” junior Brayden Knowles said.
In the Ocean Lakes High School community, there are no dangerous bus stops seen as hazardous to the driver and students.
“The recent traffic infractions are occurring in the Magic Hallow neighborhood and surrounding areas near Lynnhaven Parkway. The infractions are mostly vehicles disregarding school bus stop signs,” Officer Cameron Kolmer said.
Additionally, in New Kent County, Virginia, the sheriff’s office implemented AI-powered devices similar to those on school buses; however, instead of detecting school bus passing violations, the cameras would detect speed limit violations on I-64 construction zones towards the Richmond area.
“The city of Chesapeake has already implemented these cameras on city maintained roads in specific school zones. I do see Virginia Beach implementing these radar detecting cameras in the near future in City of Virginia Beach school zones,” Officer Kolmer said.
As a result of the speed camera program, over 60,000 speeding violations were reported from AI detection. Once these violations have been confirmed by the office, the drivers will be filed and charged a fine of about $100.
“In my experience of following school buses on their routes, drivers appear to be more cognizant of the bus because of the repercussions of civil fines,” Officer Kolmer said.
