NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – State Representative Jason Potts recently introduced a bill that would increase penalties for those who pass a stopped school bus.
“People have lost respect for stopping at a school bus,” Representative Potts told News 2.
Currently, when drivers are stopped for passing a stopped school bus in Tennessee, they could be charged with a misdemeanor and a fine of up to $1,000.
Potts’ bill was introduced to lawmakers last week and would bring up to felony charges for passing a stopped school bus.
“It’d be a tiered system for the offenses. So it’d be first, second and third offense,” Potts said. “We’d have a certain penalty for each offense. And then it’d be a misdemeanor if you just pass a school bus. But if you pass a school bus when it’s stopped and the flashing lights are out and you cause injury, it’d be a class E Felony. If you cause death, it’d be an even higher penalty. Then it may be a class B felony.”