House Bill 1926 would put cameras on school busses to catch drivers who pass them while they are stopped and letting students on and off the vehicle. The Senate gave its approval on Wednesday and sent the measure to the governor.
“Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence. If there isn’t a police officer around, many drivers don’t realize the danger of passing a stopped school bus. A young man was recently struck in Stillwater by a passing driver and over the years, many other kids have been injured around the state and some even killed,” said HB 1926 author Senator Ron Sharp. “There’s a reason it’s illegal to pass a bus – it’s extremely dangerous to students, especially younger ones who might not be as attentive crossing the street.”
If the governor signs the measure, drivers caught by the camera going around a stopped bus would be fined $100. Three quarters of that money would go into a fund for to pay for more school bus cameras.
“This bill will allow those school districts that decide to install cameras be able to better protect their students. It will also provide local law enforcement with evidence to be able to hold those who break the law accountable or deter those who might otherwise consider passing a stopped school bus,” said Sharp. “The main thing is that this will hopefully prevent future injuries and fatalities. I appreciate my Senate colleagues for their reconsideration and support of this important measure and urge Governor Stitt to sign it.”
