Police Warn of Hefty Tickets As Buses Hit the Road

As school kids throughout Hillsborough Country return to class on Tuesday, they won’t be alone on the roads.

The Tampa Police Department plans to have officers out in force near local school zones to make certain drivers are obeying the rules of the road. The agency has announced heightened patrols between 7:30 and 9 a.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. Officers will be present at all schools, the agency noted in an email to media.

In addition to making sure motorists behave behind the wheel, the department’s officers also plan to assist with traffic direction and with helping students at crossings.

Increased patrols will continue for the first two weeks of classes at schools and along bus routes.

Here’s what tickets for violating the rules will cost motorists:

• Passing a stopped school bus - $258
• Going 1 to 9 miles over the limit in a school zone - $143
• Going 10 to 14 miles over the limit in a school zone - $293
• Going 15 to 19 miles over the limit in a school zone - $393
• Going 20 to 29 miles over the limit in a school zone - $443

Motorists who are clocked going 30 mph or more over posted limits face mandatory court appearances, the agency noted.

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