The School District of Lee County is emphasizing student safety following the activation of new BusPatrol cameras on district buses. In the first week of the warning period alone, over 1,100 instances of illegal school bus passing were captured.
District Spokesperson Rob Spicker confirmed that 261 of these passes have been verified by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, with over 850 still under review. Each verified illegal pass during this initial 30-day advisory period will result in a warning letter to the vehicle’s registered owner.
This advisory period began after a joint announcement by Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin, Sheriff Carmine Marceno, and BusPatrol. The District is conducting a comprehensive social media and outreach campaign, sharing reminders on school websites, and sending communications to families to ensure drivers are fully prepared for enforcement.
Enforcement begins on December 8th, at which point illegal passes will result in a $225 citation.
“Our goal is to change behavior,” said Spicker. “Every time a bus is illegally passed, the students getting on or off are put at risk. We would ask drivers to think about protecting children and coming to a stop when a bus has the stop arms extended and the lights flashing.”
The new system features 11 cameras per bus, utilizing Artificial Intelligence to detect potential violations. Videos are reviewed and verified by the Sheriff’s Office before a citation is issued. Statistics from BusPatrol suggest that 90% of drivers who receive a citation never receive a second one, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in modifying behavior.
Beyond catching illegal passes, the cameras also allow the Sheriff’s Office and the District to monitor buses in real-time for any disturbances or accidents, enhancing overall safety and response capabilities.
The message is clear: “Students lives are at stake. Act now, stop when a bus is stopped. Don’t wait for a $225 citation to change your behavior.”
