TALAHASSEE, Fla. – Motorists who cause deaths or injuries when illegally passing stopped school buses would have to pay bigger fines, have their licenses suspended for a year and perform community service in a trauma center or hospital, under proposals moving in the Senate and House.
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Monday unanimously voted to approve a measure (SB 1622) by Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, that would require motorists who injure people while illegally passing stopped school buses to serve 120 community service hours in a trauma center or hospital; participate in a victim's impact panel or attend a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles approved driver-improvement course; pay a $1,500 fine; and have their licenses suspended for a year.
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The bill is named after Cameron Mayhew, a 16-year-old from Fort Myers who died after being hit by a vehicle that illegally passed a stopped school bus on June 1, 2016.
Current law sets a $100 fine for passing a stopped school bus, with the moving violation charges potentially growing to $363 depending on which side of the bus a motorist passes.
The House version (HB 1239) has received unanimous approval from two committees and awaits an appearance before the Government Accountability Committee.