Stricter law in place for passing stopped school buses

Source: The Daily News, Jacksonville, N.文件倉C.Aug. 25--As students head back to class and school buses take to area roadways, there's an important lesson for motorists.Stricter penalties are now in place for motorists convicted of illegally passing a stopped school bus.Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law last month a school bus safety bill named for Hasani N. Wesley, a Forsyth County sixth-grade student who was killed in December when crossing a street to reach his bus.Under the new law, there are higher fines to pay for violations and the possibility of losing your driver's license for repeat offenses.Motorists convicted of passing a stopped school bus are guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and must pay a minimum fine of $500, an increase from the previous $200 maximum. If a motorist strikes a person in the process it becomes a felony and the fine goes up to $1,250. If the action causes a death, the minimum fine goes up to $2,500.To make sure violators comply, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles will withhold renewal of a driver's license until the fine is paid.But the fines are only a part of the consequences. Repeat offenders could lose their driver's license for a year or more. A conviction also adds points to a driver's license, which can increase the cost of automobile insurance.For school transportation officials its safety first as a new school year puts hundreds of yellow school buses back on the road.Their advice: obey the rules of the road, don't pass stopped school buses when the stop arm is out, and slow down at school zones."Each year we like to remind parents with children 存倉iding the bus to be patient; with new bus drivers and new bus routes it may take a week or so before things run smoothly. We'll be transporting over 16,000 students and have more than 250 buses on the road," said Mike Henderson, director of transportation for Onslow County Schools.While Onslow County Schools open Tuesday, 103 school buses will take to the road Monday in Carteret County as students head back to class there.Lloyd Willis, the transportation director for Carteret County Public Schools, said that after a summer break motorists need to be aware that there will be more traffic and buses on the road during school hours.And there first days of school they should allow for additional time to get to their destinations and remain patient as school traffic routines settle in."During school hours everyone needs to be patient and slow down," Willis said. "The bus schedules are new, the routes are different and students are going to be looking for their bus stops. Everyone needs to allow time to get to where they are going."Motorists are also reminded to be mindful of students outside the buses as well."Please obey school zones and their speed limits and time. We will have children walking to school and riding bikes to school, some for the first time, so be prepared and be patient," Henderson said.Contact Daily News reporter Jannette Pippin at 910-382-2557 or jannette.pippin@jdnews.com. Visit JDNews.com to comment.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Daily News (Jacksonville, N.C.) Visit The Daily News (Jacksonville, N.C.) at .jdnews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉