The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) has been cracking down on drivers who pass stopped school buses, and the financial penalties are substantial.
In the first week of enforcement, authorities issued 1,750 citations, each carrying a $225 fine. This enforcement has resulted in $393,750 in fines, which the school district is reinvesting in its programs.
Lisa Schreckenstein, a concerned parent, spoke about the importance of adhering to school bus stop signs.
“I’ve seen a couple of incidents where it almost looked like a child could have been clipped,” said Schreckenstein.
She emphasized the impact of monetary fines on driver behavior.
“When people feel it in their pocketbook, rather than any other type of way, they’re going to respond,” said Schreckenstein.
The school district reports that, on average, 350 tickets were given out daily. The funds collected are being used to enhance student safety through various initiatives, including safety programs, driver incentives, and additional bus camera systems.
Rob Spicker from the Lee County School District discussed the ongoing efforts to equip every bus with cameras.
“We’re close. We’re just not quite there,” said Spicker. “We should have them all installed, certainly by the time we come back in January, every bus will be rolling with a camera.”
Parents have also suggested other potential uses for the funds, such as bus driver incentives, improving bus safety, and supporting teachers and after-school care programs.