Miami School Bus Cameras Cite 11,500 Drivers During First Two Weeks of School

In the 13 days since Miami-Dade public schools started the new school year, more than 11,500 drivers have received citations thanks to the district’s new camera system that catches and fines drivers who don’t stop for school buses. At $225 a pop, that could mean about $2.5 million in citations.

In July 2023, Florida authorized the installation of cameras on school buses to increase safety for students exiting and entering school buses. Although the law requiring drivers to stop for stopped buses was already in place, the addition of cameras to buses means that more drivers than ever are being cited for disobeying the law.

“There have been numerous accidents nationwide where children have been struck while exiting a bus, and children have been injured; it’s a huge safety concern,” said Detective Andre Martin at the Miami-Dade Police Department.

There are now 950 school buses across the county equipped with cameras to catch drivers who illegally pass buses.

This initiative’s enforcement is a collaborative agreement among Miami-Dade County Public Schools; the Miami-Dade Police Department; and BusPatrol, a private company managing the buses and the high-resolution AI technology triggered when a school bus sign is deployed. The technology photographs the license plates of cars that fail to stop.

So far this year, an average of 1,600 citations per school day have been issued, meaning that around $2.5 million in citations have been issued. The money earned from the citations is funneled back into the program.

“Obviously, with the number of violations we are seeing, it’s a wonder we do not have more accidents,” said Martin. The office is going through historical crash data to see whether there are specific incidents of children being struck after getting off a bus.

According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, school buses are unlawfully passed an estimated 43.5 million times each school year in the United States. In April, a 6-year-old was hospitalized after being hit by a car while exiting a school bus in Polk County.

In a video posted by Miami-Dade Police to X, several drivers are seen illegally passing school buses while a flashing stop sign is extended in the front and back of the bus. Children are also seen crossing the street as drivers ignore the stopped bus.

According to the law, as long as the bus “stop” flashing arm is extended, drivers must stop and remain stopped until the flashing stops. This applies to traffic traveling in both directions, except if a raised median exists in between. Police officers and firefighters must also comply.

©2024 Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.