New Kentucky Law Targets Drivers Who Ignore School Bus Stop Signs

Anytime I hear about new legislation involving school buses, I remember my all-time favorite bus driver. Her name was Pat, and I only rode her bus for one year, but it was memorable. She was a blast, and she would lose her mind if someone ran her bus's stop sign. (She did, however, stop short of cussing around us kids.)

New Kentucky School Bus Law

Pat would approve of the new legislation recently signed by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. You know, I get just as angry as Pat did when I see a motorist ignore a school bus stop sign. Do they think it's not a real stop sign because it's not on a pole on a street corner? Well, anger often "drives the bus," so to speak, and it drove it straight to Frankfort, where Governor Beshear signed legislation that will allow school districts to opt into school bus security cameras that will target drivers who disregard those stop signs.

Harsher penalties for motorists caught speeding past an activated school bus stop sign should curtail the practice. And it's a practice that has been running rampant in Hardin County, Kentucky, in recent weeks and months. In fact, it's been happening daily, according to the Hardin County school district's transportation supervisor.

That's crazy. It's bad enough to ignore the sign, but to hit the sign in your blatant disregard?

Once House Bill 7 goes into effect on July 1st, first-time offenders will be looking at a $300 fine. Subsequent offenses within three years will lead to a $500 fine.