Florida Bill Would Allow Stop-Arm Cameras on School Buses

LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Lawmakers here are expected to vote on a new bill that would allow school districts to install stop-arm cameras on school buses.

House Bill 849, sponsored by Rep. Emily Slosberg, would allow school districts to install stop-arm cameras on buses, and let law enforcement use recordings and images to issue traffic citations for bus passing violations.

Rob Spicker, a spokesman for Lee County School District, told WTXL that the district supports the idea of installing cameras on school buses "as long as it's well-thought out, well-funded, and is beneficial to the safety of our students," and that it would cost approximately $500,000 to equip the district’s estimated 900 buses with cameras. Spicker added that in a single day last year in Lee County more than 600 motorists illegally passed stopped buses, and the year before that over 900 illegal passes were reported in one day.

HB 849 has been referred to the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee, the Pre K-12 Appropriations subcommittee, and the State Affairs committee, according to the state's Senate website. If the bill passes, the new law would take effect on Oct. 1.