Officials hope these three cameras will help catch illegal passers.

Traditionally, the New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) has estimated one car illegally passes each of the state’s 50,000 school buses every day. But in a week, the Remington ELSAG Mobile Plate Hunter 900 installed on one regular route school bus has scanned the license plates nearly 40 illegal passers — between seven and eight each day.

Peter Manella, president of NYAPT and manager of the pilot, cautioned that these results are preliminary. Still, the pilot program and an accompanying public awareness campaign should help police and pupil transporters understand illegal passing and what it takes to stop it, Manella said.

ELSAG North America founder and CEO Mark Windover said before Manella reached out to him, he had no idea illegal passing was such a problem.

"I have four kids. They all ride the school bus. To think that there is a very good likelihood that someone on that route is going to be passing [their bus illegally] is unthinkable," Windover said.

The technology has already helped police find nearly 4,000 stolen vehicles in the last three years. Unlike versions used police, the three-camera system in Syracuse only activates when the stop arm is extended, saving an onboard computer from recording legal passers.

The plate reader was subsidized by a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. Windover said a future version with one camera could cost around $12,000.