BARTOW, Fla. - As Polk County students prepare to return to school next week, cameras on school buses will once again be used to catch drivers illegally passing them.

The backstory:

Polk County Public Schools began equipping their fleet of 500 buses with state-of-the-art video cameras in August 2024. The district partnered with Verra Mobility to reduce dangerous driving behavior by capturing the license plates of violators who ignore the stop-arm sign and fining them hundreds of dollars.

"Ninety-eight percent of drivers who receive a first offense citation do not receive a second one. This program helps raise awareness and reminds everyone that we must comply with the law, especially for the safety of our children," said Melba Rivera, the vice president of product management at Verr

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