The New York Association for Pupil Transportation is rallying behind several bills that target major safety risks making headlines this year. Last night officials urged members via Facebook to get involved and send letters, emails or faxes to state senators in support of S.5122, S.5028 and S.5503. Other school bus safety bills remain in the Senate Transportation Committee.
S.5122 establishes the crime of criminal trespass on a school bus, school grounds or children’s camp, following the lead of a similar bill in Alabama. Tragedy struck that Southern state in late January when an irate gunman boarded a school bus and demanded two child hostages, eventually shooting the bus driver and escaping with one boy, who was held hostage for a week before authorities rescued him and took down the perpetrator.
In response to mounting concerns over illegal passing, or “stop arm,” violations that put schoolchildren at risk daily, senators have crafted two bills designed to catch and prosecute offenders more effectively (S.5028) and to toughen penalties so repeat offenders lose their driver’s licenses (S.1878). The latter measure allows for a 60-day suspension of an individual’s driver’s license when the holder is convicted two or more times of passing a stopped school bus within a period of 10 years.
Known as the School Bus Camera Safety Act, S. 5028 would enable school districts and school bus contractors to install cameras on buses to catch on camera motorists who fail to stop when a yellow bus comes to a halt with its stop arm extended. Images of offenders’ vehicles and license plates would be used to issue a summons to the registered owners of the vehicle. It also authorizes school districts to receive state aid for the purchase of such cameras.
In addition, S.5028 also makes it a crime of (a) aggravated assault when a motorist injures another individual as a result of illegally passing a stopped school bus, (b) criminally negligent homicide, a class E felony, when a motorist kills another individual as a result of illegally passing a stopped school bus and (c) third-degree assault, also a class E Felony, if an illegal passer causes injury to another person, per bill text.
“The number of school buses that are passed illegally each day is startling,” said bill sponsor Sen. Catharine Young. “Far too often these drivers are never caught for committing such a dangerous violation and students are continually put in harm’s way. This bill would bring these drivers to justice.”
Sponsored by Sen. Jack Martins, S.1519 prohibits a registered sex offender from obtaining or renewing a commercial drivers license to operate a passenger or school bus, providing a greater level of protection to those in contact with bus drivers.
“The safety of children is paramount and we’ve committed to student safety in the New York State Senate. These are further measures of protection. When parents put their children on a school bus, they should be confident that their child is safe,” Martins said in a statement.
Also receiving NYAPT’s support is S.5503, which would further strengthen requirements related to drug and alcohol testing of school bus drivers.
“There are thousands of good solid drivers out there and we need to ensure that their good name is protected,” NYAPT announced on Facebook May 16. ”We support S.5503, just today introduced by Sen. Fuschillo, that will tighten up on testing, increase the number of drivers tested and take steps to protect our children…we had four DWI arrests last fall.”
