Ohio lawmakers have approved legislation that increases penalties for drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses and authorizes the use of cameras to capture violations. The measure, known as House Bill 3, has passed both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly and now awaits action from Gov. Mike DeWine.

Increased Penalties

Under the legislation, fines for illegally passing a stopped school bus would increase to between $250 and $1,000. Repeat offenders could face additional consequences.

Supporters say the goal is to deter dangerous driving behavior and improve child safety around school transportation routes. State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R–Bowling Green, stated, “The goal of this legislation is really to change behavior and deter those from putting our children at risk.”

The bill also authorizes the use of school bus-mounted cameras to help identify and document drivers who illegally pass stopped buses. Lawmakers cited thousands of citations issued in recent years for illegal school bus passing, with the Ohio State Highway Patrol issuing more than 16,000 citations between 2018 and 2023.

Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.