The police warn drivers who illegally overtake school buses: They will be caught on camera and receive a hefty fine.
Miami-Dade police released a video on Wednesday showing several drivers illegally driving past school buses with their lights flashing and their brake arms extended.
The footage even shows that drivers do not stop when children cross the street.
NBC6 previously reported that this school year, all 1,000 of the county’s school buses will be equipped with cameras using AI technology known as “AVA,” which will allow police to automatically issue $225 fines to people who fail to maintain their lane.
During a month-long test phase earlier this year, the system sent more than 10,000 warning letters to lawbreakers. In less than two weeks, authorities have now exceeded that number.
“Since the start of the 2024-2025 school year, there have been approximately 11,500 school bus policy violations. That equates to an average of approximately 1,600 violations per school day. Let’s work together to keep our children safe,” Miami-Dade police said in a post on X.
So, make sure you know the rules: if you are on a two-lane road and the bus stop barrier is down, you must stop. This applies to traffic in both directions.
You may only overtake if there is a raised barrier between you and the bus.
