Austin ISD Police Chief Eric Mendez speaks with media Feb. 5 to discuss how the police department will begin issuing $300 citations for drivers who allegedly drive past stopped school buses while children are boarding or leaving.[/caption]

Starting Feb. 8, the Austin ISD Police Department will be giving out $300 fines for drivers who pass school buses that are picking up or dropping off students.

To catch alleged traffic violators, AISD will be using mounted cameras on its buses to record video of drivers passing by while buses are stopped and its lights are flashing. The cameras video record an entire sequence, from when a vehicle approaches a bus to when it has passed the bus, AISD Police Chief Eric Mendez said. A still shot of a vehicle's license plate is also recorded, he added.

From Jan. 8 to Feb. 5, about 326 warnings were given to drivers who passed by a stopped school bus, Mendez said.

"That's way too many," Mendez said. "We're too concerned that we have that many drivers who are either unaware, not paying attention, or just not concerned about stopping for our school buses."

AISD worked with American Traffic Solutions to provide and install the camera systems on its fleet of buses. AISD Transportation Director Kris Hafezizadeh said the cameras and installation are of no cost to the district.