Isaias Soto
•8/6/2026
With Lee County Schools starting next week, officials are reminding drivers to stop for school buses or face a $225 fine. Farrah Ellis, a school bus driver in Lee County for the past 10 years, said she sees drivers ignoring bus stop signs every day. "It happens every day. A lot of people thinking that they can beat the stop arm before it comes out," Ellis said. New video from BusPatrol cameras shows cars speeding past stopped school buses and ignoring flashing red lights. "Our children are our most precious asset. We want you to stop," said Dr. Denise Carlin, superintendent of Lee County Schools. Since December 2025, when cameras began issuing tickets, Lee County recorded 35,000 citations by the end of the last school year. "We saw over a 30% reduction in violations per bus per day, something we're very, very proud of," said Donny Wolfe, vice president of BusPatrol. Carlin added, "We're really happy because what that tells us is our message is resonating with the residents. They are starting to pay attention." All school buses in Lee County are now equipped with stop sign cameras, which Ellis said helps her focus on her students. "It does give you a little bit more peace of mind, because now we know that if something happens, there's actually footage and film to see what happens," Ellis said. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and school officials hope the cameras will continue to reduce violations and encourage drivers to stop for school buses as the new school year begins. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
