The Stop-Arm School Bus Safety Program instituted in Albany County resulted in more than 2,700 tickets and $700,000 in fines, mostly in the South Colonie Central School District, during the first three months of 2023, the county executive’s office announced Monday.

The awareness campaign is designed to promote public safety and remind motorists to stop when school buses flash their lights and extend their stop-arms.

Roughly 900 tickets a month were written in the South Colonie Central School District from January through March, while 80 citations were issued in the Bethlehem Central School District in March, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said.

Fines issued during that time in the two school districts have totaled more than $700,000, McCoy said. The fine for a first-time violation is $250.

Live ticketing started in Guilderland a few weeks ago. Berne-Knox-Westerlo also is joining the program.

Stop-arm cameras detect license plates of vehicles that fail to stop for school buses. Video evidence is reviewed before citations are issued.

South Colonie school buses were the first to implement the program. According to the county, 923 tickets were issued between Nov. 28 and Dec. 28.