SISD buses equipped with camera technology to catch violators

The Socorrro Independent School District started its first day of the Spring semester Tuesday.

School bus drivers rolled out of SISD Headquarters in far east El Paso at about 5:30 Tuesday morning to begin their routes with new technology.

All SISD buses are equipped with new cameras to capture drivers who break the law by driving past buses when the stop-arm is in use while picking up and dropping off students.

The district teamed up with the City of Socorro Police Department to approve the ticketing and issuance of fines to drivers who ignore bus stop-arms.

SISD officials said the district is currently working to establish similar agreements with El Paso and Horizon City police departments.

Several schools within SISD are located in El Paso and Horizon city limits.

SISD transports about 12,000 students everyday to and from school and the district wants to make streets safer for them.

The new technology was first tested on ten school buses in 2014 and the SISD Board of Trustees approved the cameras last year.

Drivers who violate the law could face a minimum $300 fine.