Jay Gordon has been a school bus driver for 23 years and has been dealing with impatient drivers from the get go.

"They're always in a hurry. They don't want to get stuck behind the bus," said Gordon.

To prevent drivers from illegally passing, schools in Jamestown and in many other districts across the state are now fitted with new bus safety equipment, including stop-arm cameras, and others located on the front, side and rear of the bus, that detect license plates of vehicles that fail to stop, like a few of these cars we captured on camera.

The video is then uploaded to a secure server which is forwarded to law enforcement who then decide if an infraction has occurred.

"We get raced by a lot. I just think it's going to be safer for everyone in the area," said Gordon.

The effort is possible after the city of Jamestown approached district leaders about the idea, with no cost to city taxpayers for equipment, installation and maintenance. Instead, leaders say fines from those who break the law will fund the program over five years.

"Any opportunity that we can take to make kids safer here in Jamestown is much appreciated. And we will move forward to do that," said Kevin Whitaker, superintendent of the Jamestown Public School District.

The city partnered with a Virginia-based company, BusPatrol, complete with a number of other school district clients across the state including Albany, Dutchess, Erie, Monroe and Rockland counties.

The company's largest client, Suffolk County, saw a 40% drop in the number of tickets between 2021 and 2022.

Jamestown leaders saw a difference early on as well.

"This has really opened our eyes to some of the dangerous behavior on the roadways," said Whitaker.

Gordon is hopeful drivers will pay closer attention.

"And I think if they know now that they're going to probably get a ticket if they pass a bus, it might slow people down, make them more cautious," said Gordon.

According to the state DMV, traffic approaching from either direction must stop if a bus has its red flashing lights on. That includes four-lane roadways. Leaders say the fine for a first-time violation can run as much as $250.