Miami Drivers Fight Back! Lawsuit Filed Against School Bus Camera Program—Is It a Money Grab?

A group of Miami-Dade County drivers has filed a lawsuit challenging the county’s school bus camera program, arguing that it unfairly issues traffic tickets and violates their rights. The case raises serious concerns about automated enforcement and whether it prioritizes safety or profit.

What’s the Issue?

Last year, Miami-Dade County partnered with a company called BusPatrol to install stop-arm cameras on about 1,000 school buses. These cameras automatically record vehicles that illegally pass a stopped school bus, leading to fines of $225 per violation. The goal is to protect children getting on and off the bus.

However, drivers say the system is deeply flawed. Many have received tickets even when they were following the law. Florida’s traffic rules allow vehicles to pass a stopped school bus if there’s a raised median dividing the road but the cameras don’t account for this, leading to thousands of unnecessary fines.

Within the first two weeks of launching, the program issued over 11,500 tickets, bringing in an estimated $2.5 million in fines.

Why Are Drivers Suing?

The lawsuit argues that the camera system is ticketing innocent drivers and making it nearly impossible to appeal the fines. Some people have been waiting months for a hearing, with no clear way to challenge their citations.

Many drivers also believe the program is more about making money than improving safety. Under the contract, BusPatrol keeps 70% of the fine revenue, while the school district gets the remaining 30% for safety programs. Critics say this creates a major conflict of interest, why would the company fix errors if it means losing money?

Authorities Take Action

Amid growing outrage, Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz announced that all citations issued for median violations would be suspended immediately. The sheriff’s office hasn’t given full details on why, but it’s clear the backlash played a role.

This isn’t just a Miami problem. Similar complaints have surfaced in other Florida counties, like Hillsborough, where drivers struggle to contest unfair tickets due to confusing or inefficient appeal processes.

What’s Next?

As the lawsuit moves forward, it could have big implications for the future of automated traffic enforcement. If the court sides with the drivers, it might force Miami-Dade, and possibly other counties, to rethink how they use cameras for traffic violations.

For now, drivers who believe they were wrongly ticketed are encouraged to document their cases and consider joining the legal challenge. The battle isn’t just about fines, it’s about fairness.