Montgomery County recorded more than 375,000 tickets and $92 million in issued fines, yet a county audit found no evidence of reduced collisions, improved public safety, or fewer violations. That gap, between enforcement volume and demonstrated child protection, sits at the center of a rapidly expanding national conversation about AI-assisted school bus camera programs. A Type Investigations report found that Montgomery County’s own audit uncovered no evidence of fewer collisions, improved public safety, or a reduction in total violations.
How the Systems Work
Cameras flag suspected illegal passings; law enforcement or a trained reviewer examines the footage before a citation is issued.
BusPatrol, which the Type Investigations report identifies as a leading operator in this space, has equipped approximately 35,000 buses across 24 states, though the company’s own more recent materials cite a higher figure. Footage is packaged with location, time, and related data, then reviewed by law enforcement or a trained reviewer before a citation goes out. Verra Mobility operates a comparable program in Osceola County, Florida, and AngelTrax is working with Teton Stage Lines in southeast Idaho, where the organizations are seeking legislative approval for statewide expansion.
Where the Money Goes
Under many BusPatrol contracts, according to Type Investigations, the company receives 60% of citation revenue while the municipality keeps 40%.
Technology fees can reduce the public share further. In Montgomery County, fiscal years 2019 through 2024 directed approximately $40 million to BusPatrol and $18.5 million to the county, according to the Type Investigations report. BusPatrol says the revenue structure covers installation and operating costs, and that the company absorbs shortfalls when citation revenue falls short of camera expenses.
The Enforcement Plateau
Montgomery County recorded 36 citations per active camera in fiscal year 2020 and 34 in fiscal year 2025, a pattern that offers limited support for vendor deterrence arguments.…