Rep. Brown reintroduces bipartisan school bus safety bill from the 132nd, 133rd General Assemblies

COLUMBUS: State Representative Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) has reintroduced House Bill (HB) 646 and House Bill (HB) 83 from the 132nd and 133rd General Assembly respectively, which would modernize laws governing the illegal passing of a stopped school bus. The bill would specifically allow for the use of exterior cameras to document violating motorists’ actions and would increase penalties for these dangerous traffic violations. 

“This is such an important piece of legislation that we have seen many other legislators follow the trail we have blazed on the issue. With this momentum behind House Bill 70, I believe that we can work together to protect Ohio’s school children,” said Rep. Brown. 

Rep.  Brown has worked with several of his GOP colleagues on the legislation over the past two General Assemblies, and presently legislation similar to Rep. Brown’s has been introduced in the Ohio Senate. 

“I am proud of our bipartisan work over the past two General Assemblies on this common-sense safety legislation, and I look forward to finally getting our legislation across the finish line” said Rep. Brown.

Under current Ohio law, reckless drivers currently face a $500 fine and a class-seven suspension for passing a stopped school bus, with no increased penalty for a second offense. The bill would put Ohio on par with other Midwestern states, allowing judges to impose an increased $1,000 fine for a first offense and a $2,000 fine for any additional offense within five years. The legislation also allows for a judge to suspend a violating motorist’s license for up to six months upon a second offense. 

House Bill 70 has been assigned to the House Criminal Justice Committee.