Rep. Brown reintroduces bipartisan school bus safety bill

State Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) today introduced bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. Gary Scherer (R-Circleville) to increase safety for Ohio students by cracking down on motorists with multiple violations of passing a school bus with its stop arm activated.

“This commonsense legislation will increase fines and penalties for motorists who recklessly choose to pass a stopped school bus,” said Rep. Brown. “Rep. Scherer and I are proud to reintroduce this important bipartisan legislation to keep Ohio’s schoolchildren safe.”

Under Ohio law, reckless drivers currently face a $500 fine and a class-seven suspension for passing a stopped school bus, with no increased penalty for a second offense.

The bill would put Ohio on par with other states by allowing judges to impose a $1,000 fine and/or a class-five suspension of the violator’s license for any additional offense over a period of five years.

Brown introduced similar legislation during the 132^nd General Assembly.