Miami-Dade suspends school bus camera citation program over ticket errors
Key Points(5)
- Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz announced Thursday the immediate suspension of the county’s school bus camera citation program after officials uncovered significant errors in the fines listed on tickets issued through the initiative.
- “The integrity of how we enforce our laws must never be undermined,” Cordero-Stutz said during the announcement.
- But issues surfaced when drivers who ignored the initial $225 Notices of Violation (NOVs) were issued UTCs that incorrectly listed the fine as $225 instead of the correct amount of $344.
- “That $119 discrepancy could result in unpaid balances and lead to these individuals having their licenses suspended,” said Fernandez-Barquin.
- He noted that his office often couldn’t find the improperly cited tickets when drivers attempted to pay them.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz announced Thursday the immediate suspension of the county’s school bus camera citation program after officials uncovered significant errors in the fines listed on tickets issued through the initiative.
Standing alongside Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts Juan Fernandez-Barquin and Chief Judge Nushin Sayfie, Cordero-Stutz said the decision was made after a thorough review revealed that Uniform Traffic Citations (UTCs) sent to drivers by the vendor, BusPatrol, contained incorrect penalty amounts and citation numbers, creating confusion and placing some drivers at risk of license suspension.
“The integrity of how we enforce our laws must never be undermined,” Cordero-Stutz said during the announcement. “Effective immediately, we are suspending the BusPatrol citation program, and no additional citations will be issued from today forward.”
The camera program, launched last year in partnership with Miami-Dade Public Schools and BusPatrol, was designed to catch drivers illegally passing stopped school buses. But issues surfaced when drivers who ignored the initial $225 Notices of Violation (NOVs) were issued UTCs that incorrectly listed the fine as $225 instead of the correct amount of $344.
“That $119 discrepancy could result in unpaid balances and lead to these individuals having their licenses suspended,” said Fernandez-Barquin. He noted that his office often couldn’t find the improperly cited tickets when drivers attempted to pay them.
As part of corrective actions, Fernandez-Barquin’s office has withdrawn “D6 notifications” — legal steps that would have triggered license suspensions — for drivers affected by the flawed UTCs.
Cordero-Stutz had previously suspended part of the program in March for violations related specifically to drivers illegally crossing road medians. Thursday’s move halts the entire BusPatrol ticketing program.
“There’s no one who doesn’t want our children to be safe, but in that process, it has to be done right,” Cordero-Stutz emphasized. “These errors fall below our standards and risk undermining public trust.”
While the program is suspended, residents with citations dated before April 17 are still being urged to comply with the listed penalties unless otherwise advised. Those who have already paid and are concerned about the validity of their ticket are encouraged to consult with legal counsel to understand their options.
