LOWER MERION — Since first using a camera system that can send violations to drivers for passing stopped school buses just over a year ago, Lower Merion officials reported issuing more than 12,000 citations.

The discussion took place during a police committee meeting, which also included information on the number of citations issued on Lower Merion’s new red light camera in Wynnewood.

Township Police Superintendent Andy Block outlined the statistics on both types of citations.

The school bus program went live Aug. 1, 2025.

Under the program, the Lower Merion School District’s fleet of 135 buses were outfitted with photo enforcement technology that detects the license plates of vehicles that fail to stop for school buses. Police review a video of the vehicle passing the bus before issuing a notice of violation. The penalty for a first-time violation is $300.

Block said many school bus violations are occurring on two township roadways, and part of that may stem from a public misconception about who is supposed to stop.

“So the majority of the violations are occurring on Montgomery Avenue and Lancaster Avenue,” Block said. “It’s a four-lane roadway, and we can do another public safety announcement on this, which we did when the program first started in conjunction with the school district. But people believe that when they’re driving on a four-lane roadway, they’re exempt from stopping for the bus when the red lights are active, and that’s not the case. The only time that they’re exempt from it is if it’s a divided highway per the vehicle code.”

According to Block, when he has spoken to other police departments, they often see the same violations occurring on these four-lane roadways. So the best thing to do is run another public relations program to inform the general public about school bus rules.

Block said it’s a civil penalty. So, when the citation is issued, it goes to the vehicle owner, not necessarily the driver, under the statute.

Regarding the township’s first red-light camera at the Remington Road and Lancaster Avenue intersection, Block said that during the 60-day warning period, the department issued 1,463 warnings.

After the warning period ended, from July 13 through Aug. 31, Lower Merion issued 922 citations. To date, they have issued 1,207 citations.

Block said the next red light camera will be installed at Lancaster Avenue and Haverford Station Road. It will be installed within the next 30 to 45 days.

A third red light camera is expected to be installed at Montgomery Avenue and Airdale Road in January.