In Duval County, more than 3,000 drivers faced fines last month for illegally passing school buses, resulting in $719,000 in penalties. This enforcement follows the installation of new cameras on school buses designed to catch violators.

Safety Measures and Legal Framework

The Duval County School District Police Department issued 3,197 citations in May, marking the first month of the new program. Each citation costs $225. The cameras, equipped with artificial intelligence, identify drivers who pass buses with extended stop arms and flashing red lights. An officer reviews each video before a ticket is issued, and over 800 citations were dismissed after review last month.

Florida law mandates that drivers stop for school buses with extended stop arms, regardless of direction, unless separated by a raised median or a median wider than five feet.

Program Effectiveness and Community Response

Chief Jackson Short of the Duval County School Board Police Department emphasized the program’s goal of enhancing student safety. Data from BusPatrol, the technology provider, indicates that 90 to 95% of drivers do not reoffend after receiving a ticket, suggesting the program’s potential success. However, Short noted it’s too early to assess its effectiveness in Jacksonville specifically.

Some community members, like 79-year-old Jerry Wilkes, are contesting their fines. Wilkes argues that he passed a bus parked on private property, not on a public road, and is seeking evidence to support his claim. The district provides instructions for contesting citations, and drivers can contact the Duval County School Board Police if they disagree with the process.

As the school year resumes in the fall, the district plans to evaluate the program’s impact more comprehensively, with all buses equipped and operational.

Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.