Our summer days are winding down, and it’s almost time for our family, friends and neighbors to return to school. Seeing kids with backpacks walking our sidewalks and the yellow buses driving through Gorham in the morning is a great reminder to use extra caution as our students travel to and from school.
Making sure kids get to and from school safely is of paramount importance in Maine. It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus in our state, and violating the law is a Class E crime, which comes with a $250 minimum fine. Despite the law, some drivers continue to put school children at risk by illegally passing school buses. For this reason, the Legislature took steps to address school bus safety, and I’m pleased with the work we accomplished.
LD 166, An Act To Protect Schoolchildren by Providing Additional Enforcement and Prevention Options for Unlawful Passing of a School Bus, was signed into law by the governor and will go into effect September 19. This new law allows for school buses to use extended stop arms. These stop arms extend three to six feet from the left side of the school bus, making it difficult for oncoming traffic to illegally pass a school bus.
This new law also allows for a traffic surveillance camera to be mounted on a school bus to prove, enforce or open an investigation into someone illegally passing a school bus. Any information retained by the camera is confidential, cannot be saved for more than 30 days and can only be used to prove, enforce or open an investigation into illegally passing a school bus.
These changes are a good first step, but there is still work to be done. I recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to testify before a Congressional subcommittee on the topic, “Examining the Federal Role in Improving School Bus Safety.”
It was an incredible opportunity to meet with policy experts and discuss what work is being done at the state level and what the federal government can do to help. It is worth exploring what other states are doing to protect school children, and the Transportation Committee in Augusta is prepared to do this work.
Though the legislative session has ended, I want to remind residents that our legislative office remains active year-round. If you are having difficulty navigating state agencies, have questions about policymaking or just want to voice your concerns, please be in touch. I also send out periodic e-mail updates throughout the year. If you would like to receive these updates, let me know by e-mailing me.
Rep. Andrew McLean, D-Gorham, is serving his fourth term in the Maine House. He is House Chair of the Transportation Committee and represents parts of both Gorham and Scarborough.
(207) 939-8482 | (800) 423-2900 | andrew.mclean@legislature.maine.gov