Arriving on a stopped school bus? Here's what to do

After a one-month grace period, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office issues tickets to drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses.

The county has partnered with Bus Patrol to equip 1,000 vehicles with cameras capable of capturing license plate numbers and video of an offense.

The company describes itself as an AI-powered school bus safety program on its website.

When a violation occurs, the footage is filtered through software before being sent to law enforcement, where it will be reviewed by a deputy to determine whether a fine should be issued.

During the trial phase alone, the sheriff's office issued more than 10,000 warnings. Now, drivers can receive fines of $225.

Here's what you need to know to stay on the right side of the law.

Traffic attorney Chris Hersem said the law hasn't changed, but rather the way it is enforced.

Previously, an officer had to be on scene to issue a ticket, but now the cameras can do all the work, Hersem said.

Hersem said if you are driving on the same side of the road as a stopped bus, you will have to stop.

“What confuses a lot of people is that the law also requires cars traveling in the opposite direction of the school bus to stop, and in most cases,” Hersem said.

There are some exceptions, including when a driver driving on the other side of the road is not required to stop. Hersem said this includes cases where there is a raised median, a physical barrier or a five-foot unpaved space between the two vehicles.

If in doubt, Hersem says the best option is to brake.

“Make sure you stop safely, but stop,” he said. “The penalties for these violations are very severe.”

And while some people might have a problem with the use of cameras for law enforcement, Hersem says he sees it as a positive.

“The original law here was designed to protect children, and I think we can all agree that prevention is better than cure when children are involved,” he said.

More than 500,000 children were transported by school buses statewide last year, according to the School Bus Fleet Information Collection.

If a driver receives a ticket, they can pay it online, by mail, or in person at a designated location. Individuals can also contest the fine through the civil court system.

A Florida law passed last year — Senate Bill 766 — allowed school districts to install violation detection systems on school buses.

In addition to 360° cameras, the technology also includes GPS tracking and emergency response resolutions.