Thursday, November 12, 2026
A class-action lawsuit challenging the Town of Hempstead’s school bus camera ticketing program can move forward after a Nassau County Supreme Court judge granted class status to three groups of motorists, potentially opening the door for thousands of drivers to seek refunds for fines they say were improperly issued.
Justice Leonard D. Steinman issued the ruling Nov. 10, allowing the groups to pursue reimbursement claims against the town and the Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency.
Centering on the town’s School Bus Stop Arm Enforcement Program, which uses cameras installed on school buses to identify motorists accused of illegally passing stopped buses, the plaintiffs contend that the program was improperly administered and that motorists were issued citations without adequate legal authority and procedural protections. The litigation seeks reimbursement for drivers who paid fines they allege were unlawfully imposed. Citations carry a minimum $250 fine.
The ruling marks a significant development in a legal battle that has raised questions about the town’s authority to enforce the program, the evidence used to support citations and the rights of motorists contesting violations.
In 2025, the controversy intensified after investigations found that the town had issued tens of thousands of tickets in school districts that had not agreed to participate in the program.
Roughly 36,000 school bus camera citations in and around four nonparticipating districts — Hempstead, Baldwin, Lawrence and Valley Stream — were issued by the town in 2025. The tickets represented more than $9 million in potential fines, Newsday reported.
The 2025 citations followed nearly 80,000 tickets issued in those districts during 2023 and 2024, representing another $20 million in potential fines. State and local laws require school districts to agree to participate in the program before tickets can be issued on their behalf.
The town initially questioned the legality of the citations. In January 2025, Town Attorney John Maccarone wrote to BusPatrol CEO Karoon Monfared, expressing concern that the practice potentially exceeded the program's legal authority and contradicted state and town laws.
Then Town Supervisor Donald Clavin also called for improperly issued tickets to be dismissed and fines refunded. However, the town reversed course several months later, saying BusPatrol had reviewed the program and determined that no citations had been improperly issued. Under its contract with BusPatrol, the town receives 55 percent of ticket revenue, while the company receives the remaining 45 percent.
The litigation also challenges the procedures motorists face when contesting citations, including allegations that drivers were not provided sufficient evidence before hearings and lacked adequate opportunities to challenge the town's case.
The Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency conducts hearings when motorists contest school bus camera tickets issued by the town.
Although Steinman’s decision allows the class action claims to proceed, it does not establish that the tickets were illegally issued or guarantee refunds. The underlying claims still must be resolved through the litigation.
