PITTSFIELD — A new camera added to a Pittsfield Public Schools bus will capture vehicles that fail to stop when children are entering and exiting the bus, allowing the police department to fine motorists who illegally pass it during stops.

As part of a pilot program that began Monday, Bus No. 128 is now equipped with a “stop-arm” camera that can capture the license plates of vehicles that pass when the bus is stopped with its stop sign extended and its red flashing lights on. The Pittsfield Police Department will then review the footage and images to determine if a violation occurred.

Officials hope that the technology will deter drivers from passing the bus during boarding and drop-off.

In a press release, Director of Bus Operations Colleen O’Brien said the new camera “is part of our continued efforts to help protect students during loading and unloading times and to promote greater awareness and compliance with school bus traffic laws.”

During the initial 30 days of the pilot program, first-time offenders will be let off with a warning. Once that period ends, first-time offenses will incur a $250 fine. Second-time offenders will need to pay $500.

Bus No. 128, which services multiple schools within Pittsfield, has a route that passes through several high-traffic areas, including South Street, East Street and West Housatonic Street.

The camera installation comes just over a month after the Pittsfield School Committee moved to hold further discussion on the chaotic state of pick-up and drop-off at Pittsfield High School, after a local grandmother expressed concern about student safety.

Concerns about bus safety also extend beyond the city: a family in nearby Hinsdale recently spoke at a Select Board meeting about an incident where their 7-year-old son almost got hit by a vehicle while exiting his school bus.

A state law took effect on Jan. 10, 2025, that permits cities and towns in Massachusetts to install cameras on school buses to capture vehicles that illegally pass the buses.

It is not immediately clear how the city or Pittsfield Public Schools plan to expand the program.