Bill allowing detection systems to catch illegal school bus passes clears Senate
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – A bill to authorize school districts to install and maintain school bus infraction detection systems passed the Senate Monday by a vote of 35-5.
The legislation will allow school districts to contract with a private vendor or manufacturer to provide a school bus infraction detection system on each school bus in its fleet.
The bipartisan bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, and Sen. Lori Berman, D-Boynton Beach. A similar bill is working through the House.
“It’s a really big problem. There’s been a number of very tragic incidents that have happened across the state. So I believe that this is a measured, yet important method of enforcing a very serious safety situation,” Burgess said.
Burgess said the bill seeks to address the “pervasive problem” of illegal passing of stopped school buses in Florida by giving school districts the authority to use external camera systems on their buses to help law enforcement enforce violations.
The system uses electronic traffic enforcement technology to record traffic violations when drivers fail to stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal.
School districts must make a public announcement and conduct a 30-day public awareness campaign before commencing initial enforcement using these systems.
The bill requires the school district, or a private vendor or manufacturer contracting with a school district, to submit specific information regarding alleged violations to the law enforcement agency authorized to enforce school bus stop signal violations in the school district.
The information must be submitted within 30 days after the alleged violation is captured and include a copy of the recorded image showing the motor vehicle, the license plate number and state of issuance, and the date, time, and place of the alleged violation.
If the law enforcement agency determines a violation occurred, the agency must send a notice of
violation, within 30 days, by first-class mail to the vehicle’s registered owner. The notice must
include information detailing how to pay the civil penalty, review the evidence, request a hearing
to contest the violation, or submit an affidavit providing a defense to the violation.
If the owner does not contest, pay the civil penalty, or submit an affidavit within 30 days after receiving the notice of violation, he or she will be issued a uniform traffic citation.
Sen. Victor Torres, D-Kissimmee, supported the bill in debate. Torres noted he is a former bus operator and this was one of the bills he tried to run previously.
“Tragedies happen because drivers are reckless, and they don’t care about the students. Hopefully, if we have to make the law a little bit stronger next session – we should. The lives are too precious,” Torres said.
Reps. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, voted against the bill.
