On January 31, a class action lawsuit was filed against the Town of Hempstead and BusPatrol America, LLC, accusing them of fraudulently issuing unauthorized traffic tickets. Plaintiff Shirley Lane alleges that the defendants improperly issued more than 80,000 Notices of Liability (NOLs) for school bus stop-arm violations without proper authorization from local school districts.
The case revolves around allegations that the Town of Hempstead and BusPatrol America installed school bus photo violation monitoring systems and issued NOLs in several school districts without securing necessary agreements. According to New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1174-a and Hempstead Code § 186-2(B)(2), such agreements are mandatory before implementing these systems. However, districts like Baldwin, Hempstead, Lawrence Union Free School District, and Valley Stream Union Free School District 13 reportedly never consented to participate in this program. Despite this lack of authorization, more than $20 million in fines were collected from drivers.
Lane claims she received an invalid NOL in March 2024 after allegedly passing a stopped school bus in the Lawrence School District. Despite contesting the ticket in court, she was found guilty and paid a $250 fine. The lawsuit contends that both defendants knowingly misrepresented their authority to issue these tickets and failed to disclose that no agreements existed with the implicated school districts. This resulted in unjust enrichment for both parties—Hempstead received 55% of the revenue while BusPatrol retained 45%.
Lane is seeking compensatory damages for herself and other affected class members who paid fines based on these unauthorized NOLs. Additionally, she seeks declaratory judgment declaring these practices unlawful under federal law, as well as injunctive relief to prevent future violations by the defendants. The plaintiff also requests restitution and disgorgement of profits obtained through these alleged illegal activities.
Representing Shirley Lane are attorneys Frank R. Schirripa, Daniel Rehns, Kurt Hunciker, and Jay P. Saltzman from Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP. The complaint was in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID: 2:25-cv-00566.