Philly school buses getting cameras to ticket drivers who illegally pass the bus

A new pilot program is intended to protect school children -- and punish bad drivers -- by installing school buses in the School District of Philadelphia with new technology.

On Tuesday morning, school district officials unveiled details about a new pilot program that will see 20 buses throughout Philadelphia fitted with camera that can ticket drivers who pass a school bus once the bus stop arm is extended.

In a statement on the program, officials said the cameras will be mounted to stop arms of buses and will record any driver who illegally passes a bus.

"According to Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law, motorists are required to stop at least 10 feet away from school buses either when they are behind, or approaching an intersection, where a bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm activated, and must wait until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm has been withdrawn," officials noted, in a statement.

Buses for the pilot were selected based on routes that have stops on major roadways, multi-lane highways, and busy intersections, officials said.

It's illegal to pass a school bus that has its stop arm extended. But, the new cameras are intended to be able to catch drivers in the act.

The program, officials said, comes at no cost to the district and will run throughout the school year.

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At first, no citations will be issued through this pilot program. But, officials said, the number of violators will be shared with the district to allow officials to review the information as part of the pilot program.

This story will be updated as new information becomes available.