Law
Overtaking a school bus
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT – Amends existing law to provide for an increased fine for a first violation of overtaking a school bus and misdemeanor penalties for second and subsequent violations.

RS31412 / H0610

This legislation updates Idaho Code § 49-1422 and has three specific components. Firstly, it increases the fines associated with illegally passing school buses. Drivers in Idaho have increased the frequency of passing school buses during the boarding and disembarking of children, and the current deployment of flashing lights and the stop arm is not always effective enough. Increasing the fines will be a notable deterrent against unsafe driving behavior. Secondly, this legislation amends the charge for a first-time offense from a misdemeanor to an infraction while maintaining that the second, and any subsequent stop arm convictions, remain a misdemeanor. Currently, the requirement of the defendant for a first-time stop arm offense is to make an initial court appearance to plead guilty, a second appearance for a court trial, and a third appearance for sentencing. Reducing the initial charge to an infraction allows the defendant the ability to resolve the fines imposed under this subsection online, or by phone or email. Finally, the draft grants the Department of Education administrative rights to the School Bus Camera Fund. In supporting the efforts to bring more awareness to the seriousness of school bus stop violations, and to support local law enforcement agencies in securing convictions of such offenses, moneys in the fund will be appropriated for the purpose of school bus stop arm cameras, software, equipment, and training.

Bill Events
Date Description
02/21 Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
02/22 Reported Printed and Referred to Transportation & Defense
02/23 Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
02/26 Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
02/27 Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 37-29-4
AYES – Achilles, Allgood, Blanksma, Boyle, Burns, Cheatum, Cornilles, Dixon(1), Dixon(24), Durrant, Ehlers, Erickson, Furniss, Handy, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Horman, Lanting, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Raybould, Raymond, Sauter, Shepherd, Vander Woude, Weber, Wroten, Yamamoto, Mr. Speaker
NAYS – Alfieri, Andrus, Barbieri, Berch, Bundy, Cannon, Chew(Hansen), Clow, Crane(13), Ehardt, Gallagher, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hawkins, Kingsley, Lambert, Mendive, Monks, Necochea, Pickett, Price, Redman, Rubel, Scott, Skaug, Tanner, Wisniewski, Young
Absent – Crane(12), Galaviz, Roberts, Wheeler
Floor Sponsor - Shepherd
Title apvd - to Senate
02/28 Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
02/28 Introduced, read first time; referred to: Judiciary & Rules
03/18 Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
03/19 Read second time; filed for Third Reading
03/20 Read third time in full – PASSED - 23-9-3
AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Burtenshaw, Cook, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hartgen, Just, Lakey, Lee, Lent, Rabe, Ruchti, Schroeder, Semmelroth, Taylor, Trakel, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Winder, Wintrow
NAYS – Bjerke, Carlson, Foreman, Hart, Herndon, Lenney, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Zuiderveld
Absent and excused – Den Hartog, Ricks, Toews
Floor Sponsor - Hartgen
Title apvd - to House
03/21 Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
03/21 Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
03/21 Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
03/21 Signed by President; returned to House
03/22 Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
03/25 Delivered to Governor at 12:10 p.m. on March 22, 2024
03/26 Reported Signed by Governor on March 25, 2024
Session Law Chapter 190
Effective: 07/01/2024
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