A state senator announced yesterday that he plans to introduce legislation aimed at stopping incidences of students left unattended on their school buses and school bus drivers operating the yellow vehicles while intoxicated.
If passed, the state board of education would be require all school districts to develop policies for drivers to check school buses at the conclusion of routes for any students who might still be on board. Any driver charged with leaving a child behind could face fine up to $300 and a loss of school bus endorsement operating privileges for 30 days. A second offense would be result in a fine between $300 and $1,000 and loss of school bus endorsement operating privileges for 60 days; and a third offense would be a fine between $1,000 and $1,500 and revocation of school bus endorsement operating privileges.
Meanwhile, bus drivers convicted of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs would face 30 days in jail and a fine of $5,000 to $10,000 for a first offense; 90 days in jail and a fine between $7,500 and $15,00 for a second offense; and a year in jail and a fine of $10,000 to $20,000 for a third offense. A fourth and subsequent offense would be no less than five years in jail and a fine between $15,000 and $25,000. The school bus driver would also face the loss of vehicle operating privileges for two years.
However, it would seem unlikely that most school bus drivers would still be employed by the school district or school bus company after leaving a child on board the bus or being caught under the influence, as most operators, both public schools and private contractors, already have zero-tolerance policies in place that terminate drivers after a first offense. In the case of drivers leaving a child alone on the bus, they can also be charged with criminal child endangerment and ,may face civil lawsuits, said Kevin Prady, president of the Pupil Transportation Association of Pennsylvania and the transportation director for Seneca Valley School District north of Pittsburgh.
He added that he would like to see legislators like Logan associate their names with legislation that is designed to address real problems that are injuring and killing students, like motorists who ignore school bus stopped while loading and unloading students.
The bill was scheduled to be discussed during the next PTAP board meeting on Feb. 9.
