Bus Safety Program

Continued from A2 needing a paid police officer at every intersection and following every bus,” she said. “It’s a very efficient way for providing the consequence for breaking the rules of the road.”

Before the program took effect, Hahn added, few violators ever got caught. Today, they receive a fine, incentivizing better roadway behavior and creating a safer traffic environment.

“Now people have to change their behavior to no longer do the illegal action that puts people’s lives at risk,” the county legislator said.

Questions over potential misapplication

County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) said the School Bus Safety program is one of the few measures for which he wishes he could rescind his “yes” vote. He said the Legislature was misled when the program was pitched.

Figures obtained by Trotta indicate the program grossed $23 million last year, with $13 million retained by the county and the outstanding $10 million collected by the vendor. Kennedy estimated the county government netted approximately $11 million.

“We don’t have all the net revenue,” Kennedy said. “That’s been another consequence of the hack” against the county government in September. For more on this ransomware event, see story, “Suffolk County cyberattack offers a window into the dangers of the digital age,” Nov. 17, also TBR News Media website.

By statute, the net proceeds generated by the School Bus Safety program must support various educational programs related to school bus and traffic safety. Asked how the revenue is being spent, an administration official said the 2022 revenue figures are still being finalized.

Guilfoyle, however, cited specific examples of how the revenue supports countywide traffic education initiatives: “Examples of the county’s efforts include dedicating more than

$1 million to school districts and $125,000 in [public service announcements] during the back-to-school months to educate drivers on the state law surrounding stopping for buses.”

Trotta viewed the school bus program as a lucrative moneymaker for the county and vendor rather than a measure promoting bus safety. He said the law is applied unfairly, ticketing busy multilane corridors in the same manner as residential neighborhoods.

“I’ve checked with all the school districts, and kids aren’t crossing major thoroughfares,” Trotta said. “I’m all for giving a ticket to someone who passes a school bus on a residential avenue because it’s dangerous. I’m not at all for 1,000 people on Jericho Turnpike getting tickets.”

While the county code imposes rigid reporting requirements regarding expenditures of revenues generated from the program, Kennedy said he has yet to see any reports to date.

Competing perspectives

Following an initial spike when programs such as this are first instituted, Hahn said offenses start to wane “because people begin to change their behaviors — they stop at red lights because they’re afraid of getting a ticket.”

In time, the legislator added, drivers throughout Suffolk “will no longer go around stopped school buses,” but “if they choose to break the law, they will get tickets.”

Trotta said he is pushing to repeal the School Bus Safety program altogether. “The reality is it’s a sham, and it’s not what we were told it was going to be,” he said.

While Kennedy acknowledged the importance of traffic safety, he held that the audit is to determine whether the program is administered correctly.

“I never want to see somebody blowing a stopped school bus sign — it’s just heinous,” the county comptroller said. “But if [the program] is not being operated in a fair and proper and consistent manner by the school bus drivers and the vendor … then it’s a problem.”

Kennedy expects the audit to be finalized by the second quarter of 2023.

Automobiles/Trucks

Vans/Rec Vehicles

***AAA***AUTOBUYERSHighest CashPaid,AllYears/Conditions,WEVISITYOU,Or Donate,TaxDeduct+Cash.

DMVID#1303199.CallLUKE 516-VAN-CARS.516-297-2277

Finds Under 50

STORMWINDOW39”high36” wide asking$40.00Call 631-744-3722.

Automobiles/Trucks

Vans/Rec Vehicles

JUNKCARSBOUGHT!

We’llBeatAnyPrice. Call631-500-1015. SEEDISPLAYADFORMOREINFORMATION.

Auto Services

DRIVE OUT BREAST CANCER

Donate a car today, The benefits of donating your car or boat, Fast Free Pickup, 24hr Response, Tax Deduction, Easy To Do, Call 24/7 855-905-4755.

ADVERTISE FOR RESULTS 631-751-7663

FILL000061

Health, Fitness & Beauty

VIAGRAandCIALISUSERS! 50 PillsSPECIAL$99.00FREE Shipping!100%guaranteed. CALLNOW!855-413-9574

Merchandise

CRAFTSMAN30INCH 13:50CC SNOWBLOWER $1100Call631-332-8287.

Musical Instruments

BLUESMANPIANOTUNING

Certified pianotechnician, 631-681-9723, bluesmanpianotuning@gmail. com, www.bluesmanpianotuning.com

GUITARINSTRUCTION-Intelligent, focused,empathic instructionforguitar,bass,all frettedinstruments.Allstyles, levels.Setauketstudio.Coyote Music(631)721-5004

Schools/Instruction/ Tutoring

PIANO-GUITAR-BASS

All ages-levels-styles. Manylocalreferences. Recommendedbyallarea schools.TonyMann, 631-473-3443,631-332-6005

Financial Services

AREYOUBEHIND$10kOR MORE ONYOURTAXES?Stop wage&banklevies,liens& audits,unfiledtaxreturns,payrollissues,&resolvetaxdebt FAST.Call888-869-5361 (Hours:Mon-Fri7am-5pmPST)

Limousine Services

SUFFOLKLIMO

Wine Tours,Events,Hamptons, NYC,Servingallairports,Professionaldrivers,luxurysuv’s, sedansandSprintervans.Book online,Suffolklimoservice.com 1-800-364-7049,631-771-7991.

Housesitting Services

TRAVELING? Need someonetocheckonyour home?

ContactTenderLovingPet Care,LLC.We’remorethanjust pets.Insured/Bonded. 631-675-1938

Miscellaneous

FOUND:TREKBIKE on PondPathinEastSetauket. CallPaul631-987-4817

Automobiles/Trucks Vans/Rec Vehicles

Miscellaneous

GETDIRECTVFOR$64.99/MO FOR 12MONTHSWITH CHOICEPACKAGE.Savean additional$120over1styear. First3monthsofHBOMax, Cinemax,Showtime,Starzand Epixincluded!Directvis#1in CustomerSatisfaction(JD Power&Assoc.)Somerestrictionsapply.Call 1-888-534-6918

Miscellaneous

WHEELSFORWISHESBENEFITING MAKE-A-WISH ® NORTHEASTNEWYORK.Your CarDonationsMatterNOW MoreThanEver!FreeVehicle PickUpANYWHERE.We AcceptMostVehiclesRunning orNot.100%TaxDeductible. MinimalToNoHumanContact. Call:(877)798-9474.CarDonationFoundationd/b/aWheels ForWishes.www. wheelsforwishes.org.

©127500

Musical Instruments

MUSICLESSONS

HOME /VIRTUAL Guitar,Piano,Stringsandmore IntroductoryRatesfornewstudents,AlsoPianoTuningand Repairs. Stringsoundstudios.com O631-476-8946, C631-223-6899