SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Proposed Florida bill would increase bus passing penalties

Gabby’s Law for School Bus Stop Safety is named after 12-year-old Gabby Mair, who was fatally struck by a car after deboarding her school bus in 2010. The bill would increase the severity of charges for passing a bus on the boarding side and increase fines.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
January 16, 2015
2 min to read


A Florida lawmaker has proposed a new bill that would step up the severity of charges for passing a stopped school bus with its stop arm out.

The proposed bill, called Gabby’s Law for School Bus Stop Safety, is named after 12-year-old Gabby Mair, who was hit by a car after getting off the school bus in DeBary in 2010, and was pronounced brain dead the following day, Health News Florida reports. The bill was submitted by Sen. David Simmons.

In Florida, failing to stop for a stopped school bus is a moving violation. Under SB 346, the fine would increase from $100 to $250. For a second offense within five years, driver’s license suspension would increase to a minimum of six months and a maximum of one year, up from the current 90 days to six months

Also under the bill, passing a stopped school bus on the side that children enter and exit would be upgraded to reckless driving, which is punishable with 90 days in prison or a fine of up to $500, or both. A second conviction would be punishable with six months in prison or a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Additional charges would be added to the stop-arm violation fines for the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund to help support trauma centers.

As previously reported, Gabby’s parents, Don and Kimberly Mair, have worked with the Volusia County Schools Board to make bus stops more visible, and set up a website to promote their campaign. They have also started a nonprofit organization, Gabby’s Law Inc., that works to make school bus stops safer.

The bill, if approved, would take effect on Oct. 1, 2015.
 

More Safety

Graphic titled "NSC Award Winners" featuring two group photos of National Safety Council award recipients. One group holds an "Our Driving Concern Employer Traffic Safety Award" banner, while the other poses with a recognition plaque at the 2026 Texas Traffic Safety Conference.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettAugust 4, 2026

How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs

Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.

Read More →
A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJuly 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Read More →
Graphic for a School Bus Fleet news story featuring the NASDPTS logo, a speaker presenting with a microphone, and the headline, "38.4 Million Stop-Arm Violations," highlighting annual illegal school bus passing estimates.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettJuly 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic illustrating a fatal school bus incident in New York, featuring a close-up view of the front of a yellow school bus with a cracked-glass overlay and the headline, "7-Year-Old Fatally Struck in New York," dated July 9, 2026, alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJuly 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

Read More →
School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJune 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

Read More →
zonar system image
SponsoredJune 22, 2026

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Promotional graphic for a new Pro-Vision AI camera system. The image shows a monitor displaying camera views with AI object detection overlays, along with multiple cameras and recording hardware. Text reads "New Product," "Pro-Vision," and "Visibly Better." School Bus Fleet logo appears in the lower-right corner.
SafetyJune 11, 2026

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System

The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.

Read More →
A New York school bus in the street.
Safetyby Elora HaynesJune 9, 2026

N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students

New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.

Read More →
Graphic for an opinion article on illegal school bus passing. A school bus with its stop arm extended is stopped as children cross the street, while a black SUV drives past. Headline reads, “America’s School Bus Blind Spot.” School Bus Fleet branding appears in the corner.
SafetyJune 8, 2026

America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse

Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a school bus on a New York street and text reading "Legislative Roundup May 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 29, 2026

School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate

Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.

Read More →