The Pulaski County Special School District on Monday officially announced its support for a new law that amends the penalties for passing a stopped school bus.
The Arkansas legislature passed Act 264 in the 2021 session. It enacts harsher penalties for passing a stopped school bus with its warning lights initiated. A person violating the law, upon conviction, now would be guilty of a misdemeanor, could face fines between $250 and $1,000, confined in the county jail up to 90 days or face both faces and imprisonment.
“We always put the safety of our students first as well as our staff,” said PCSSD Director of Transportation Charles Blake. “It is imperative that the drivers on the road do the same. If you see a bus stopped, respect the law and protect our children.”
The bill also states that vehicles must stop no less than 30 feet from the school bus when the warning signals are initiated for the loading and unloading of passengers.
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