Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed a bill into law last week that increases the penalties and repercussions for people who low past school buses.
What To Know: Missouri Senate Bill 1421, which was signed into law by the governor last week, will make punishments much harsher for those who drive past school buses discharging students.
For example, if this was the driver’s first offense, they face a fine of $500-$1000. Fines increase with the number of offenses.
If the violation results in the physical injury of a child, it is considered a class E felony, and the driver could be sentenced to up to 4 years of prison and a $5000 fine.
If the violation results in a serious physical injury, it is upped to a class D felony with up to a 7-year prison sentence and a $10000 fine.
What It Means: Each conviction of failure to stop for a school bus that has its stop signs out will result in five points on the driver’s license. The Missouri Department of Revenue keeps track of points on driver’s licenses and if a driver receives 12 points in 12 month, they could get their license suspended or revoked.
The bill has been celebrated by school districts around the state with Springfield Public Schools’ transportation director Keith Adams stating that failure to stop for school buses is not only a state issue, but a nationwide one.