TAMPA, Fla. — The testing and warning phase of a new Hillsborough County Schools bus safety program has ended, and starting Thursday, violations will be sent to drivers making bad decisions around school buses.

At the beginning of the school year, Hillsborough County Schools launched a new camera enforcement system on 1,000 school buses that can capture drivers not stopping when a school bus has its stop arms active.

“We knew it was a safety issue with cars passing with stop arms,” said Deputy Superintendent Chris Farkas. “We’ve had over 10,000 warnings that have gone out over the last four weeks. 

“So our goal is student safety, that is the priority for the district.”

The district will use any funds generated from violations to pay for the cameras installed.

Bus driver Ashley Ely says the cameras come as good news, as often times bus drivers witness drivers failing to stop for stop arms, but can’t do anything about it.

“It’s basic knowledge,” Ely said. “When you are driving in a regular car and you see a stop sign, you stop, right? 

“Every day we still have people passing, which is not a good sign.”

Citations will be issued through the mail, similar to red light tickets.

Violations will cost drivers $225. 

Meanwhile in Manatee County, a similar safety program is starting for speeding in school zones.

Drivers stopped going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit in a school zone will get a $100 fine.

For the past month, only warnings have been issued.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said it will review all violations caught on camera. Also, drivers won’t get any points on their license.