What's happening
This bill increases fines for passing a stopped school bus, with higher penalties specifically for commercial motor vehicle drivers.
Why it matters
Targets Commercial Drivers More Strictly. By introducing higher minimum fines for commercial motor vehicle drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus, the bill recognizes the heightened responsibility of professional drivers and aims to create a stronger deterrent within this group.
Escalating Penalties for Repeat Offenders. Both regular and commercial drivers face steeper fines and potential jail time for repeated offenses within a three-year period, signaling a legislative intent to crack down on habitual offenders and reinforce the seriousness of the violation.
Public Safety Emphasis. The bill underscores the importance of protecting children around school buses by raising the stakes for noncompliance, reflecting broader concerns about child pedestrian safety and public trust in school transportation systems.
Alignment with Commercial Vehicle Regulations. By explicitly linking the definition of "commercial motor vehicle" to existing state law, the bill ensures clarity and consistency in enforcement, reducing ambiguity for law enforcement and courts.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase School Bus Fines
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Increase School Bus Passing Fines
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2979
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY, D'URSO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to increasing the fines associated with passing a stopped school bus by certain vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision (c) of section 1174 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 254 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
(c) [Every] 1. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph two of this subdivision, every person convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) of this section shall: for a first conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than four hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days or by both such fine and imprisonment; for a conviction of a second violation, both of which were committed within a period of three years, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than six hundred dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment; upon a conviction of a third or subsequent violation, all of which were committed within a period of three years, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment.
2. Every person convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) of this section while operating a commercial motor vehicle shall: for a first conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than three hundred dollars nor more than four hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days or by both such fine and imprisonment; for a conviction of a second violation, both of which were committed within a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02290-01-9
A. 2979 2
period of three years, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than six hundred fifty dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment; upon a conviction of a third or subsequent violation, all of which were committed within a period of three years, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than eight hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "commercial motor vehicle" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined by subdivision four of section five hundred one-a of this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.