What's happening
This bill increases penalties by imposing a 60-day license suspension for repeat offenses of illegally passing a stopped school bus.
Why it matters
Targets repeat offenders. by specifically increasing penalties for those who have already been convicted of illegally passing a stopped school bus within the previous 18 months, aiming to deter habitual violations rather than just first-time mistakes.
Directly links license suspension to child safety. , signaling a stronger state commitment to protecting children boarding or leaving school buses, which could encourage more cautious behavior among drivers near school buses.
Creates clearer consequences for risky driver behavior. , making it easier for law enforcement and courts to apply a standardized penalty, which could improve both prosecution rates and public awareness of the seriousness of this offense.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Tougher School Bus Penalties
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 39
No co-sponsors yet.
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 Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4017
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 25, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to increasing the penalties for passing a stopped school bus
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 510 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (xviii) to read as follows:
(xviii) for a period of sixty days where the holder is convicted of a violation of any provision of subdivision (a) of section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter within a period of eighteen months of a previous violation of such subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00903-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to increasing the penalties for passing a stopped school bus
Purpose or general idea of bill
To increase the penalties for passing a stopped school bus.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 510 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to include a new subparagraph (xviii) which provides for a sixty day suspension of an individual's driver license when the holder is convicted two or more times of passing a stopped school bus within a period of 18 months.
Section 2: Effective date.
Justification
Current law provides that an individual convicted two or more times of speeding in a construction zone be subject to a sixty day suspension of his or her driver license. Passing a stopped school bus two or more times however, does not currently carry such a penalty. There is no doubt that passing a stopped school bus possesses as much, if not more, risk to life and limb as speeding in a construction zone and thus should have congruous penalties.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: A719 referred to Codes/S1064A passed Senate 2016: A10078 referred to Transportation/S1634 passed Senate 2013-14: A6610 referred to Transportation/S1878 passed Senate 2011-12: A8191 referred to Transportation/S1878 passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.