AI-powered cameras will help fine drivers who pass stopped Broward school buses
Drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus in Broward County could soon face $225 citations after the school board approved a program Tuesday meant to improve student safety starting this fall.
During its June 9 regular school board meeting, which lasted about seven hours, the Broward County School Board unanimously approved the two items needed to launch the school bus infraction detection system program with BusPatrol.
The program is scheduled to become operational before the start of the 2026-27 school year on Aug. 10.
The program consists of three components: a contract with BusPatrol, an interlocal agreement with the Broward Sheriff’s Office delegating citation authority to the school district’s own police department, and an agreement with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings to serve as the arbiter of any contested citations.
Florida law already prohibits drivers from passing a school bus with its stop arm extended, but enforcement has largely depended on police being present to witness violations firsthand.
Under the program, school buses will have automated stop-arm cameras equipped with AI-powered detection that are meant to capture videos of drivers illegally passing stopped buses while students are entering or exiting.
The district’s police officers will then review the footage and determine whether a citation should be issued.
Broward Teachers Union President Anna Fusco expressed support for the program during public comment.
“Anything that brings safety to our children of Broward County Public Schools brings safety to everyone,” Fusco said. “This is a deterrent. It’s a safety measure and yes, it does bring money into the public schools.”
Fusco questioned how the district would oversee revenue generated through the program.
“Now, who you guys task and what you do to make sure that the money is spent properly and is accounted for, is on you. It’s a big toll,” she said.
Board members broadly supported the measure while also raising questions about enforcement, revenue and accountability from the district.
One problem the county faced in implementing the program, which was first brought up two years ago, was finding a law enforcement agency to review the footage captured by the bus cameras.
Under state law, an agency that serves the entire county must conduct the reviews. While the Broward Sheriff’s Office meets that requirement, it declined to assign its own personnel to the job, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Instead, the district opted into an interlocal agreement with BSO that authorizes school district police officers to review the tape.
“This system will ensure that drivers will hopefully stop when they are supposed to stop and allow the kids to get on and off the bus,” board member Adam Cervera said. “Anything to keep our students safe on their way to school and dropping them back home back after school, I’m 100% in favor of.”
Board member Debra Hixon asked General Counsel Kathy Dupuy-Bruno how the money from the citations could be used.
“Simplistically, it has to be used for student transportation, safety initiatives related to transportation, school bus driver recruitment and retention, the program administration itself and any other related transportation safety enhancements,” Dupuy-Bruno said.
District staff said the revenue would offset general fund costs.
Each ticket carries a $225 fine. Of that amount, $25 goes directly to the school district, and the remainder is split two ways. Seventy percent of the remaining $200 goes to BusPatrol, and 30% goes to BCPS, amounting to the district keeping $85 per ticket.
Dupuy-Bruno noted the district won’t pay out-of-pocket to operate with BusPatrol, which is responsible for covering all costs related to the program. This includes the cameras, enforcement operations, police review, hearing fees and other program expenses out of their 70% of revenue.
She also added the county negotiated a contract deemed a “gold standard,” with more favorable terms than other districts. Dupuy-Bruno said the agreement eliminates termination fees and recurring monthly charges.
Hillsborough County, which includes the Tampa Bay area, is paying about $225,000 a month for the equipment and the usage, she said.
According to district staff, BusPatrol estimates the program could generate between $8 million and $12 million in revenue during its first year.
Board member Allen Zeman said he was comfortable moving forward with the proposal but shared concern about the long-term revenue split.
“I’m comfortable doing this, but I’m not comfortable giving up 70% of the money on a forever basis,” Zeman said. “I just hope that the market shifts and we get a larger share of the money in the future and we can rebid the contract and maybe they win again but with a different share.”
Board member Rebecca Thompson raised concerns about the controversy reported in Miami-Dade County, where drivers received questionable tickets, being fined even as they were on the other side of a median from a stopped bus.
An investigation by the Miami Herald and The Tributary found that some drivers received citations, even though they were traveling on the opposite side of a divided road and were not legally required to stop for the bus.
A judge unilaterally wiped-out 5,400 contested violations due to the mismanagement of ticket filings and faulty paperwork.
Thompson asked what safeguards Broward would have in place to not suffer the same fate. Dupuy-Bruno said proper system setup and district oversight would be essential.
Superintendent Howard Hepburn said the district can provide monthly reports to keep the board informed about revenue once the program begins.
