A safety alert is being issued as the school year approaches, with nearly 15,000 tickets issued in Westchester County for illegally passing school buses.

The violations were recorded between November and June, according to new data from BusPatrol.

The county partnered with the tech company last year to monitor its stop-arm photo enforcement program.

Officials say fewer than 7% of those ticketed during that time were repeat offenders. "The safety of our children is not negotiable," said Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, adding the program sends a clear message that illegal and dangerous passing of school buses will not be tolerated.

Twelve school districts in Westchester are currently part of the program.