Subject:
Title
Ordinance amending Pinellas County Code, Chapter 122-3, related to the Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Conduct a public hearing and adopt the proposed ordinance amending Pinellas County Code, Chapter 122-3, related to the Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act to increase the established fee on each civil traffic penalty to align with statutorily allowed level in support of local driver education programs operated by the Pinellas County School Board (PCSB).
• This ordinance amends Pinellas County Code, Chapter 122-3, related to the Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act (Dori Slosberg) to increase the current locally collected fee of $3.00 per civil traffic penalty to the maximum of $5.00 per case as allowed within Florida Statute 318.1215.
• Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners implemented Dori Slosberg on February 7, 2006, with the adoption of Ordinance No. 06-14 to establish a $3.00 penalty on each civil traffic case with funds directed to the PCSB to support driver education programs.
• On April 17, 2007, the Board adopted Resolution No. 07-51 to facilitate ongoing dispersal of collected fees to the School Board.
• Program revenues from 2013 through 2024 totaled $2,035,071.44 with an annual average during that period of $169,589.29. The annual collections have been declining for several years with 2024 revenues at $143,735.73.
• The PCSB has requested an adjustment of the fee from $3.00 to the statutory maximum at $5.00 to aid in addressing ongoing demand, capacity limits, educator retention, and cost increases for program delivery. In the current school year, 240 students have completed after school camps and approximately 970 students were enrolled in summer camps for driver education.
• This amendment has no direct impact on County budget appropriations. Funds are collected by the Clerk’s Office and dispersed to the PCSB. Based upon the 2024 collection levels of $143,735.73, this change would result in an approximate $95,823.82 increase for program activities, or a total of $239.559.55.
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Strategic Plan:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health
2.2 Enhance community safety
Smart Service Delivery
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement
Summary:
Summary
This ordinance amends Pinellas County Code, Chapter 122-3, related to Dori Slosberg to increase the locally collected fee of $3.00 per civil traffic penalty to the maximum of $5.00 per case as allowed within Florida Statute 318.1215.
Pinellas County adopted Ordinance No. 06-14 on February 7, 2006 to implement Dori Slosberg and establish a $3.00 penalty on each civil traffic case with funds directed to the PCSB to support driver education programs.
Statutory language changed to allow up to $5.00 for each civil traffic case when authorized by local ordinance. The PCSB has requested an adjustment to the fee in Pinellas County Code, Chapter 122-3 to align with the statute and provide for additional funding to support the increasing costs of local driver education. Based upon the 2024 collection levels of $143,735.73, this change would result in an approximate $95,823.82 increase for program activities, or a total of $239.559.55.
In summer 2024, PCSB reports that approximately 800 students couldn’t participate due to limited capacity. Proactive steps have been taken to expand offerings, including the development of quarterly after-school camps and increasing summer camp opportunities. The increased Dori Slosberg fee will help with funding to sustain and further develop these initiatives, retain qualified educators, and offset the rising cost of vehicles and equipment to better meet demand. PCSB anticipates an increase in students participating and an expansion of the number of schools and camps offering driver education.
In the current school year, 240 students have completed after school camps and approximately 970 students were enrolled in summer camps for driver education.
A public hearing was advertised for the August 19, 2025 Board meeting.
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Background Information:
The Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act went into effect on October 1, 2004. The Act was introduced by Representative Irv Slosberg following the death of his daughter in a traffic crash.
The original act allowed for a $3.00 fee on each moving violation issued by law enforcement. The fee must be authorized by local ordinance and the funding goes toward driver education programs in schools. The act was later revised to allow $5.00 for each moving violation.
The PCSB has recently requested an adjustment to the local fee raising the collection to $5.00 for each moving violation in alignment with statute.
Along with challenges from rising equipment costs and retaining qualified educators with a retiring workforce, PCSB reports that demand for their driver education programs continues to rise significantly. In summer 2024, approximately 800 students couldn’t participate due to limited capacity. Proactive steps have been taken to expand offerings, including the development of quarterly after-school camps and increasing summer camp opportunities.
During the 2024-2025 school year, PCSB offered after-school Driver’s Education camps for the first time in November at three separate locations. These camps were designed to provide a flexible option for students-both public and private-who were unable to take the course during the day due to academic priorities. All three camps were filled and served 60 students. Due to their success, PCSB offered an additional nine after-school camps, reaching another 180 students.
PCSB successfully ran 49 driver education camps this summer, reaching approximately 970 students from all areas of the county. Camps were hosted at 10 of the 16 high schools, including East Lake, Countryside, Dunedin, Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, Osceola, Boca Ciega, Northeast, and St. Petersburg High School.
Looking ahead, PCSB also anticipates reintroducing Driver’s Education to the curriculum at Gibbs High School for the 2025-2026 school year. This will require investments in essential items such as traffic cones, range paint, signage, and updated teaching materials.
The increased Dori Slosberg fee will help provide funding to sustain and further develop these initiatives, retain qualified educators, and offset the rising cost of vehicles and equipment to better meet demand. PCSB anticipates an increase in students participating and an expansion of the number of schools and camps offering driver’s education.
Fiscal Impact:
This ordinance amendment has no direct funding impact to Pinellas County. Funds collected will continue to be dispersed to the PCSB to support Driver Education Programs.
Based upon the 2024 collection levels of $143,735.73, this change would result in approximately $95,823.82 in increased for program activities, or a total of $239.559.55
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Pinellas County School Board
Attachments:
Final AATF Proposed Ordinance Clean Version
Final Proposed Ordinance Redline Version
PCSB Letter Requesting Amendment
Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act Statute 318.1215