The Des Moines Register has reported that Iowa’s attempt to crack down on drivers who fail to stop for school buses may be backfiring as authorities appear reluctant to fully prosecute motorists because of harsh penalties.
Called Kadyn’s Law, the legislation is named after 7-year-old Kadyn Halverson, who was struck and killed by a pickup that failed to stop while Kadyn was crossing the road to reach a school bus.
Yet, the law’s steep consequences have prompted some supporters to question whether the state has created an unreasonable punishment for first-time offenses.
The state legislature passed a school bus law in 2012 that carries steep consequences, even on a first-time offense: a 30-day license suspension, plus costly fines and pricey high-risk insurance.
Violators are much more apt to fight charges, and prosecutors appear more amenable to agree to lower consequences, data suggest.
Only a tiny fraction of drivers who illegally pass a school bus in Iowa are ultimately convicted. Even fewer have their license suspended, state data show.
