Bus Patrol

Statewide, the Florida Department of Education reports that almost 8,500 vehicles illegally pass stopped sch ool buses each day. This is equivalent to over 1.5 million violations each year.

These alarming statistics underscore the prevalence and danger of illegally passing school buses , emphasiz ing the need for stronger enforcement measures to protect children.

In Florida, drivers must stop for a stopped school bus when its stop signal is displayed and remain stopped until the road is clear of children and the stop signal is withdrawn. See the different situations in the diagram below:

• Two-lane road: All drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a stopped school bus displaying a stop signal.
• Multi-lane road: On a multi-lane roadway without a barrier or raised median, all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a stopped school bus displaying a stop signal.
• Divided highway with a raised median or barrier: The only time traffic approaching an oncoming school bus does not need to stop, is if there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least five feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic.

Through the Lee County School Bus Safety Program, we have equipped every bus in our School District’s fleet with advanced safety technology, including AI-powered stop-arm cameras. These cameras detect when a vehicle breaks the law and illegally passes a stopped school bus.

By using automated enforcement, local law enforcement can monitor every school bus stop and hold drivers accountable for violating the law and putting students at risk.

Over time, the program helps change driver behavior, reduce illegal passings, and ensure children get to and from school safely every day.

1. When a vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus displaying its stop signal, the stop-arm camera captures footage of the violation.
2. The footage is securely sent to law enforcement for their independent review to confirm if a violation occurred.
3. If law enforcement confirms the violation, a Notice of Violation is mailed to the registered vehicle owner. Data shows that over 90% of first-time violators do not illegally pass a school bus again, making roads safer for students.

The School Bus Safety Program combines education and enforcement to change motorist behavior and promote a culture of awareness and responsibility around school buses.

Before the start of the program, we are partnering with the Sheriff’s Office and BusPatrol to run an extensive public awareness campaign to inform motorists about this new enforcement initiative in Lee County. The public awareness campaign will include:

• Press conference and press release to all local media.
• 30-day warning period with warning letters sent to violators whose cars illegally passed a stopped school bus.
• Community outreach, engagement, and letters sent to every public school student parent.

We are dedicated to the continuous education of our community about school bus safety to ensure safer roads for everyone.

In 2023, Florida passed a law allowing school districts to use school bus infraction detection systems to enhance student safety. These cameras capture evidence of vehicles that illegally pass a stopped school bus displaying its stop signal. The evidence is then shared with law enforcement, helping to ensure the law is enforced and protect children as they get on and off the bus.

For more details, you can review Florida statutes:

• Florida school bus infraction detection systems law
• Florida traffic to stop for school bus law

In Florida, there is a $225 civil penalty for illegally passing a stopped school bus if detected through a school bus infraction detection system, a Notice of Violation is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, which provides a link to the AlertBus Driver Education Portal, allowing the registered owner to view evidence of the violation. Data from BusPatrol programs shows that over 90% of first-time offenders do not illegally pass a school bus a second time after seeing the evidence.

If the vehicle owner fails to pay or contest liability by the specified due date, law enforcement will issue a Universal Traffic Citation to the registered vehicle owner.

Instructions for payment are included in the Notice of Violation. You can pay online with a credit card at www.alertbus.com, where you will need to enter your Notice of Violation and vehicle license plate numbers.

To pay by phone, call 1-877-504-7080 and follow the automated prompts. Have your Notice of Violation number and credit/debit card ready. This option is for full payments only. Please be advised for online and phone payments, credit card transactions will incur a processing fee.

If paying by check or money order, make it payable to Florida School Bus Infraction Detection Enforcement. Mail the payment form (located at the bottom of your Notice of Violation) along with your payment to:

Florida School Bus Infraction Detection Enforcement
P.O. Box 1405
Smithtown, NY 11787

If you have misplaced your Notice of Violation, please contact the AlertBus Customer Service Center at 877-504-7080 for further assistance.

If you were not the driver of the vehicle at the time the violation occurred, you can complete a signed Affidavit Establishing Exemption for School Bus Infraction stating that you were not operating the vehicle. A link to the form can be found below. Be sure to include the Notice of Violation number, your legal name, and your address in the affidavit.

The document must be notarized by a Florida notary. Mail the signed affidavit to Transfer of Liability, Florida School Bus Infraction Detection Enforcement, P.O. Box 1310, Newington, VA 22122 before the due date printed on your Notice of Violation.

View and download the Affidavit Establishing Exemption Form

If you are experiencing financial hardship and are unable to pay the civil penalty in full, please contact the AlertBus Customer Service Center at 877-504-7080. They can assist you in arranging a payment plan to help manage the cost of the violation.

If you receive a Notice of Violation you can contest the violation by following the instructions on the second page of the Notice of Violation.