AI-powered cameras designed to catch and cite drivers illegally passing stopped school busses are set to launch this coming school year.
That decision comes following Tuesday’s unanimous approval vote by the Broward County School Board.
“If we’re bringing in this program, it’s going to be implemented correctly,” said board member Rebecca Thompson.
The agreement says after a review by law enforcement, violators will receive $225 fines in the mail. The majority of the revenue from the fines will go to Bus Patrol, the company providing and installing the cameras on about 1,000 Broward school busses free of charge.
About 30% of the revenue from fines would go to Broward schools.
Broward Teachers Union president Anna Fusco said she supports the program if it’s keeping students safe.
“Cars are not always paying attention and if we can give some type of deterrent, some extra safety measures that those arms are up that you need to stop your damn car, then I’m in favor of it,” Fusco said.
In Miami-Dade County, the program was temporarily halted by the sheriff after the system was improperly issuing fines to drivers who were not illegally passing busses, and those drivers had no way to appeal their fines.
Broward Schools Superintendent Howard Hepburn said they’ve since ironed out those kinks and drivers will be able to appeal fines they believe could be improper.
“Our legal team has done a good job in making sure those issues aren’t in our current contract,” said Hepburn.
