NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A $13 million proposal to install cameras on school buses in order to catch drivers who properly fail to stop when students are being dropped off is advancing in Tennessee.
House members cleared the bill on Monday allowing school districts to purchase, install and operate cameras on the exterior of school buses. The bill must now pass the Senate.
Tennessee has an estimated 8,700 school buses. Installation costs are expected to be $1,500 per school bus.
According to a fiscal review, more than 1,100 illegal passes were observed by roughly 2,750 Tennessee bus drivers in a single day during the 2017-18 school year. However, overall statewide numbers are expected to be higher.
Supporters argue the bill's $50 fine for violators could boost revenue to cover the cameras' cost.
