TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County Schools will be the first in the state to equip its entire fleet of school buses with cameras.
These cameras will record and take pictures of vehicles that don’t stop when a school bus safety arms are out and flashing. District leaders explained the technology could save lives — and it comes at zero cost to taxpayers after being funded by violations.
"School buses are illegally passed while stopped three times, per bus, per day. This is absolutely unacceptable," Hillsborough County Public Schools Interim Superintendent Van Ayres said.
Video evidence has shown that some drivers disregard children's safety and don't stop when the safety arms are out.
"Law enforcement can’t be everywhere to catch these drivers, but we intend to change that," Ayres said.
Hillsborough County Public Schools has its entire fleet equipped with the AI cameras. That's 1,101 buses whose operators drive around 90,000 students to and from school.
"Now when a deputy can’t be at every crossing, this technology will come in handy," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
This is all possible because of a new law now in effect. Senate Bill 766 was passed by state legislators this year. The new law allows school districts to install infraction detection systems on school buses. Ultimately, that means school buses can have cameras for the purpose of catching drivers breaking the law.
Hillsborough County Public Schools and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the company Bus Patrol. Officials with Bus Patrol said they have seen success with these cameras in other states. Their data shows that over 90 percent of drivers who receive a violation don't repeat the offense again.
Equipping each bus costs around $10,000, though Bus Patrol officials explained doesn't cost the district anything since it's all violator-funded.
If you pass a school bus with the safety arms deployed, school officials stated that fine is around $200. That money is being used to pay for these cameras, as well as bus maintenance.
All Hillsborough County school buses will have the cameras beginning Jan. 8, 2024. Currently, the installation is underway. For the first 30 days, drivers will receive a warning. Beginning Feb. 8, 2024, a driver could receive a fine.