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Senate approves tougher penalties for drivers who pass school-bus stop arms and allows bus-camera evidence
Summary
The Senate voted 27-8 to raise the misdemeanor level for passing a stopped school bus and to allow external bus-camera recordings to be used as evidence where buses are so equipped.
House Bill 10-94 passed the Senate on March 3 by a vote of 27-8, increasing the criminal classification for passing a school bus stop-arm and clarifying the admissibility of external bus-camera recordings when the bus is equipped with such technology.
Sponsor Senator Davis told the chamber the bill is a public-safety measure intended to make enforcement more feasible: under current law a class 2 misdemeanor limits arrest powers for officers who did not personally witness the violation. Supporters and school officials said drivers running stop arms endanger children and that video evidence from external cameras can speed investigations and prosecutions.
Opponents raised concerns about privacy and about increasing jail populations: Senator Jensen noted that a class 1 misdemeanor can carry up to one year in a county jail and a $1,000 fine and said county jails are already heavily loaded. Other speakers asked clarifying questions about when cameras record; proponents said equipment configurations vary by bus and the bill does not mandate camera installation but makes recorded footage discoverable if the bus has external cameras.
After debate the Senate approved final passage 27 yeas to 8 nays.
