Car Seat Installation and Inspection Event In Pittsfield

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Health Department announced a Car Seat Installation/Inspection event on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
 
This event will occur rain or shine at the Pittsfield Highway Facility (rear entrance) located at 81 Hawthorne Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments are required and registration can be completed at the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084AA8AB2FA2FDC07-48916528-carseat
 
Car seat installations/inspections take about 30-45 minutes and include education on installing the seat, proper use of the seat, and general vehicle safety. Free car seats are available if needed.
 
Appointments are first come, first served based on the number of certified technicians available. There is no need to book more than one appointment if more than one car seat needs to be installed.
 
If unable to attend this event, contact the city's Health Department at (413) 499-9411 Extension 852 or email Gabrielle DiMassimo at gdimassimo@cityofpittsfield.org to schedule a private appointment for car seat installation/inspection with one of our certified technicians. To register for the event with a Spanish-speaking representative, call 413-499-9411.
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Pittsfield Schools Consider Enhanced Bus Surveillance

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Pittsfield Public Schools are considering a couple of companies for enhanced bus safety surveillance after a spring pilot. 

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Bonnie Howland reported that they have met with BusPatrol and Gatekeeper Systems, which offer automated stop-arm enforcement and video surveillance.

It is illegal for drivers to pass a school bus when the red warning lights are flashing, and the stop-sign arm is extended.  This protects children exiting and entering the school bus. 

A stop-arm camera pilot program was conducted in May. 

"We currently have a four-camera system on the interior of the bus, so Gatekeeper is sort of better as far as functionality. It's a little more of an upfront investment," Howland told the School Committee last week. 

"BusPatrol works where you basically have an installation of the cameras, and then as tickets are issued to people, you sort of regain your investment, so it's two different sort of cost profiles."

Gatekeeper would cost about $100,000 to purchase, while BusPatrol has no upfront cost and a monthly charge. 

PPS is interested in putting cameras in all of its buses, about 30.  Howland said that Gatekeeper has a little more robust system that fits into our current system, and Mayor Peter Marchetti reported that the company with no upfront cost helps secure a grant for implementation: $1,200 per camera and $250 a month per bus. 

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