GoKawiilAI camera firm BusPatrol issues millions in school-bus tickets, probe finds little safety gain
BusPatrol has installed AI-powered cameras on roughly 35,000 school buses across 24 states to catch drivers illegally passing stopped buses, with police reviewing footage before tickets are issued. An investigation by Bloomberg Businessweek and Type Investigations found Montgomery County, Maryland alone issued over 375,000 tickets worth $92 million, while the county kept about $18.5 million and paid BusPatrol roughly $40 million between 2019 and 2024. The investigation found no clear evidence that the program reduced violations or collisions near buses. Other vendors, including Verra Mobility, are expanding similar revenue-sharing programs, such as a new contract in Osceola County, Florida.