TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — People who drive past stopped school buses and injure or kill a student would face increased penalties under a bill passed by the Florida House.
The measure was passed unanimously on Friday. Republican Rep. Dane Eagle said he sponsored the bill after a student in his district was killed by a driver passing a stopped school bus and the driver only received a $1,000 fine and a six month license suspension.
The bill also comes the same day a driver in Polk County struck and injured three students after they got off a school bus. However, the bus had driven away by the time the incident happened.
The bill calls for a $1,500 fine and a one year license suspension. Violators would also have to serve 120 hours of community service in a trauma center and would have to attend a victim impact panel or driver improvement course.
An identical Senate bill is ready for a full chamber vote.