An imaging system includes a camera and a controller. The camera is configured to be disposed on a first vehicle system or at a wayside location along a route to generate image data within a field of view of the camera. The controller is configured to monitor a data rate at which the image data is provided from the camera. The controller also is configured to identify a stimulus event within the field of view of the camera based on a change in the data rate at which the image data is generated by the camera.