Relating to penalties for drivers of motor vehicles who pass, or fail to reduce speed or stop for, school buses, and including effective date provisions

The driver is required to bring the vehicle to a complete stop no closer than 15 feet from the school bus when it is stopped and the stop arm is extended, and the vehicle is required to remain stopped until the stop arm is retracted and the school bus resumes motion. A first offense of these provisions is a simple misdemeanor punishable by a fine of at least $250 but not more than $675 or by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both. A second or subsequent offense is a serious misdemeanor punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $315 but not more than $1,875.482A, a violation causing serious injury is punishable by an additional fine of $500 or suspension of the violator’s driver’s license for not more than 90 days, or both, and a violation causing death is punishable by an additional fine of $1,000 or suspension of the violator’s driver’s license for not more than 180 days, or both. In 2012, the general assembly required the department of transportation (DOT) to, by administrative rule, classify an offense under these provisions as a serious violation.210. This bill strikes the term of imprisonment for a first offense.210. The bill provides that the DOT must initiate rulemaking to require persons convicted of a first school bus safety offense to participate in a driver improvement program in lieu of driver’s license suspension. This provision of the bill takes effect upon enactment.