New Jersey is currently considering legislation that would call for buses to have side-mounted cameras. The devices would ticket any drivers who speed by a bus when it’s parked and its red lights are flashing.
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The proposed legislation
The new regulation would establish school-bus monitoring systems which would cite any offending drivers and send them a ticket via mail. It would also introduce hefty fines. Drivers would have to pay $250 for a first violation. They would also have to pay $500 and perform community service for any additional violations.
Furthermore, if a police officer witnessed the driver passing a school bus, the consequences would be a bit more severe. The driver would have to pay a $100 fine, possibly do community service and jail time for no more than 15 days. They would also get five points added to their driving record.
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Envisioning a safer future for students
The goal of the legislation is to increase student safety while enforcing stricter penalties for reckless drivers. According to New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio, the state has given 9,455 citations for this offense since 2014. The new legislation should significantly lower the instances of drivers passing parked school buses.
So far, the bill has gained substantial support. Assemblyman Rob Karabinchak is spearheading the initiative. “Our students’ safety is paramount. […] There’s so many distractions today with drivers, whether they’re on their phone, whether there’s somebody else in the car.”
Interestingly enough, New Jersey considered implementing similar legislation a few years back. However, it failed to pass due to the expenses associated with the new camera systems. Since then, camera monitoring systems have become more affordable. Thus, it’s likely that the state will soon pass this legislation to help protect students.
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News Source: New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio
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