Lawmaker’s Spouse Caught Illegally Passing School Bus

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. — A car being driven by a state representative’s husband was seen passing a stopped school bus here in March, East Greenwich Patch reports.

A police report states that on March 28, a woman at a school bus stop saw a man drive the car, which belongs to House Rep. Eileen Naughton, past a school bus that had the red warning lights flashing and the stop arm extended, according to the news source. The woman noticed that the license plate read “House 21.”

After her children boarded the school bus, the woman went after the vehicle and found it in a doctor’s office parking lot. The police report states that the woman took a photo of the car with her phone and emailed it to detectives, according to East Greenwich Patch. Police interviewed the bus driver, who gave a written statement confirming that he saw a car with that license plate pass his bus. The Naughtons' son told an officer that he spoke to his father, William Naughton, who was driving the car at the time. The officer then issued a summons to William Naughton, according to the news source.

Rep. Naughton said in a statement that the incident was unintentional, her husband regrets the error, “and takes full responsibility.” He is due to appear in court on April 26, according to East Greenwich Patch. If convicted of the traffic violation, Naughton could face a fine of up to $300 and have his driver’s license suspended for 30 days for a first offense.

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