Lee County's hotspots for school bus stop violations raise safety concerns

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

A growing safety issue is raising alarms for both the School District of Lee County and local parents, with hundreds of drivers ignoring school bus stop signs.

As of Tuesday, the district tells us that more than 4,000 drivers have been cited for failing to stop when school buses activate their stop arms since citations went into effect in December.

Among the biggest trouble spots are roads like Hanson Street in Fort Myers, where 112 drivers have already been ticketed.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. SR-82 has seen 83 citations.

Other major roads throughout the area — including Colonial Boulevard, Pondella Road, US-41, SR-739, and Homestead Road — have also seen troubling numbers of violations, with around 60 drivers ticketed for disregarding stop signs.

Melissa Nigro, a parent in Lee County, witnessed the disturbing trend firsthand last month while driving on Pondella Rd.

“I was the only car to stop in the opposite direction of where the bus was stopped, and there had to be 30-some cars that blew by me. I thought I was in the wrong,” Nigro said, recalling the incident.

It turns out Nigro was right, and all those other drivers were wrong. Those who ignored the school bus stop arm were hit with a hefty $225 ticket for their violation.

“I think it's a pretty fair ticket,” Nigro said.

Rob Spicker, with the School District of Lee County, explained the highlighted roads may be particularly problematic because they often involve multiple lanes of traffic.

"Public misunderstanding is a big issue," Spicker said. "On roads with multiple lanes, drivers may think that if they're in the left lane, they don't need to stop. But that's not the case."

To clear up any confusion, the school district clarified the rules: drivers must stop for school buses unless there is a raised barrier or at least five feet of unpaved space between lanes.

The fines generated by the tickets — around $160 per citation — benefit several entities, including the sheriff's office and the BusPatrol program, which helps monitor violations. Spicker added that part of the money goes toward improving safety measures and providing stipends for bus drivers.

Despite the financial penalties, the district’s goal is simple: to ensure that drivers understand the importance of keeping children safe on their routes to school.

For parents like Nigro, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Though her child doesn’t take the bus, she’s a daily witness to the risks posed by careless drivers speeding past school buses.

“I think it's wonderful,” she said. “It will make people do what they're supposed to do.”

While the fines are steep, the results are promising. The district reports that 90% of drivers who received citations never repeat the violation.

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