A local representative has introduced legislation that would increase fines for drivers who fail to stop for school buses.
State representative Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg, who proposed the bill said he hopes that House Bill 786 will deter people from passing by stopped school buses.
“If they are caught, they won’t do it again,” Antani said.
Antani’s bill would double the fine for school bus violations up to $1,000. The bill would also increase license suspensions to up to two years depending on the severity of a violation.
Antani said the bill would also allocate a million dollars to schools for camera installations on school buses. It will also require BMVs to promote school bus safety.
“Drivers will know that a school bus that they see may have a camera on it, and that will empower the school districts to turn in these offenders,” Antani told Fox 45 News.
The bill was introduced at the end of last year and has not been edited since. A date has not been set for voting to take place.
There have been many tragedies surrounding people ignoring school buses; the bill is a preventative measure, Antani said. “People have a duty to follow the law. This is taught during driver’s ed courses when people become drivers.”
