Parents push for stronger illegal bus passing law

LAUREL, Miss. — Lori and Andy Key are again working to pass legislation that would increase the state’s penalties for passing a stopped school bus.

The Keys’ son, Nathan, was killed last December when Dominic Gebben ran over the boy as he was getting off of his school bus in front of his home. Gebben was convicted and sentenced to prison, WDAM reports.

The Keys previously introduced a bill dubbed “Nathan’s Law” to the state Legislature, but it died in committee, as SBF reported here.

Undeterred, the Keys garnered support for the legislation at a “Project Safe Child” community event in Laurel over the weekend, according to WDAM, and they plan to introduce it again during the upcoming legislative session.  

The bill would hit first-time illegal bus passing offenders with raised fines of $500 to $5,000, and their driver’s license would be suspended for 30 days. For any subsequent offense, the bill would increase penalties to $800 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both, and license suspension for 90 days.

Among other provisions of the legislation, a stop-arm violation resulting in the death or injury of a child would be a newly defined felony, and the offender could be sentenced up to five years in prison and fined up to $5,000.