School Bus Stop-Arm Cameras Launch Across Palm Beach County, $225 Fines Coming
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The School District of Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with BusPatrol, have launched the Palm Beach County School Bus Passing Safety Program to curb reckless driving around stopped school buses and safeguard students traveling to and from school. About 750 buses in the district’s fleet now carry stop-arm cameras, allowed under a 2023 Florida law authorizing school bus infraction detection systems. The cameras switch on automatically whenever a bus flashes its red stop signals, recording video and photos of any vehicle that doesn’t stop. A Sheriff’s Office deputy reviews every flagged event. If the deputy confirms a violation, a Notice of Violation goes in the mail to the vehicle’s registered owner. Drivers get a grace period first. Starting Nov. 16, 2026, motorists caught illegally passing a stopped bus will receive an educational warning by mail, with no fine. Full enforcement begins Jan. 5, 2027, when confirmed violations carry a $225 civil penalty. Because it’s a civil penalty, no points go on the driver’s license. The numbers behind the program are stark. The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services estimates
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