Florida Lawmakers Push for Reform on School Bus Camera Tickets

Debate grows over safety, fairness, and overreach of school bus camera programs across the state.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:18pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The debate over the use of school bus cameras to issue traffic citations is intensifying in Florida, with lawmakers in the Tampa Bay area pushing for reforms. Some drivers argue they are receiving tickets unfairly, even when school bus lights are not flashing and the stop arm is not extended. State Senator Nick DiCeglie has tried to strike a balance, seeking to clarify when school zone speed limits are in effect and require more transparency before implementing bus camera programs. However, these efforts have faced pushback, with the House wanting to expand the programs. While the reform bill did not pass this session, DiCeglie hopes to revisit the issue next year.

Why it matters

School bus safety programs using cameras are intended to protect vulnerable students, but the growing number of complaints about unfair tickets has raised concerns about whether the programs have gone too far. The debate touches on issues of public safety, civil liberties, and the appropriate use of technology to enforce traffic laws.

The details

Thousands of students ride school buses in Florida every day, and lawmakers are now weighing whether the safety programs designed to protect them have created more problems than they've solved. Some drivers say they are receiving tickets from school bus cameras before the lights are flashing and the stop arm is fully extended, leading to confusion and frustration. The fines for these violations can be steep, around $328 for school bus camera tickets and $100 for school zone speeding tickets. Since the programs were enacted, Hillsborough County has issued 218 school bus camera citations and over 21,000 school zone speeding tickets.

  • The school bus camera and speed zone programs have been in place across Florida for several years.
  • This past legislative session, State Senator Nick DiCeglie tried to pass a reform bill to address the issues, but it did not make it through.
  • DiCeglie says he doubts the issue will be taken up during the upcoming special legislative sessions and is hoping to revisit it next year.

The players

State Sen. Nick DiCeglie

A Republican state senator representing the Indian Rocks Beach area who has been leading the push for reform of the school bus camera programs.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that has issued thousands of school bus camera and school zone speeding tickets in the Tampa Bay area.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Folks are really having a difficult time in fighting these tickets when maybe they shouldn't have gotten a ticket. I've seen videos where a motorist is getting a ticket when the school bus lights are not on and it's created a lot of confusion.”

— State Sen. Nick DiCeglie, State Senator

What’s next

Senator DiCeglie says he hopes to bring the reform efforts back next year during the regular legislative session, as he doubts the issue will be taken up during the upcoming special sessions.

The takeaway

The debate over school bus camera tickets in Florida highlights the ongoing tension between public safety and civil liberties, as well as the challenges of using technology to enforce traffic laws. Lawmakers will need to carefully balance these concerns as they consider reforms to these programs.