Duval County Public Schools is launching a safety initiative to curb illegal passing of stopped school buses.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duval County Public Schools is rolling out a new safety initiative aimed at protecting the more than 30,000 students who ride school buses each day.
Beginning April 1, the district will implement a school bus stop-arm camera violation program across its fleet of more than 900 buses. The technology is designed to capture video and license plate information of vehicles that illegally pass a stopped school bus while its stop arm is extended and red lights are flashing.
Motorists who fail to stop will receive a notice of violation and face a $225 fine.
Under Florida law, drivers must stop when a school bus deploys its stop arm and activates flashing red lights.
District officials say violations remain a serious concern, putting students at risk of injury or death.
The program will roll out in phases. Camera installation began in March and is expected to be completed by the end of April.
Throughout April, the district will conduct a public awareness campaign. During this period, cameras will be active, but violators will receive warning notices rather than fines. The notices will include a link to view video footage of the incident.
Full enforcement begins May 1, when drivers who illegally pass a stopped bus will be issued citations carrying the $225 penalty. Officials say all recorded violations will be reviewed by law enforcement before a citation is issued.
According to the state, more than 8,000 school bus stop-arm violations were recorded in Florida in 2025. District leaders say the goal of the program is to increase awareness of traffic laws and reduce dangerous driving behavior around school buses.
The initiative will not cost the district, officials said. It operates under a revenue-sharing model funded by citation fees.
If the registered owner of a vehicle was not the driver at the time of a violation, they may be required to submit documentation or an affidavit.
BusPatrol America was approved to administer the program under a three-year contract authorized by the school board.