Legislation filed in Florida targets motorists who cause serious injury or death while committing a school bus stop-arm violation. Staged photo by Brevard Public Schools

Legislation filed in Florida targets motorists who cause serious injury or death while committing a school bus stop-arm violation. Staged photo by Brevard Public Schools

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Motorists who illegally pass a school bus and strike a student in Florida could soon face stiffer penalties.

Two companion bills filed in the state Legislature in early March target drivers who cause serious injury or death while committing a school bus stop-arm violation.

The legislation is called the Cameron Mayhew Act, named for a 16-year-old student in Fort Myers, Florida, who was struck and killed by a car while crossing the street to board his school bus in June 2016.

The driver whose vehicle hit Mayhew received a $1,000 fine and had his license suspended for six months, which Mayhew’s parents considered a light sentence, according to The News-Press.

The new legislation, introduced by Florida Sen. Kathleen Passidomo and Rep. Dane Eagle, would impose a $1,500 fine and a one-year license suspension for motorists who seriously injure or kill a person while illegally passing a school bus. The penalties for those violators would also include:

• Serving 120 community service hours in a trauma center or hospital that regularly receives victims of vehicle accidents.

• Participating in a victim’s impact panel session in a judicial circuit or attend a driver improvement course relating to the rights of vulnerable road users.

If the legislation passes, the Cameron Mayhew Act would take effect on July 1.

About the author
Thomas McMahon

Thomas McMahon

Executive Editor

Thomas had covered the pupil transportation industry with School Bus Fleet since 2002. When he's not writing articles about yellow buses, he enjoys running long distances and making a joyful noise with his guitar.

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