STATEHOUSE - Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed HEA 1021 into law, authored by Rep. Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville). House Enrolled Act 1021 was inspired by a 2007 accident involving Kasey Groves, a student in Newburgh, who was stuck and injured by a car driven by a motorist who ignored a school bus' extended "Stop" arm. "This law increases the penalty for injuring someone while passing a school bus with an extended stop sign," said Rep. Crouch. "Reckless driving is always a bad idea, but reckless driving when you know children are in the area is worse than a bad idea. It threatens the lives of our children." HEA 1021 increases the penalty for passing a stopped school bus displaying its extended "Stop" stop arm from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor if the offense causes bodily injury to a person. The change in classification raises the maximum fine to $5,000 from $1,000. The court is required to recommend the suspension of the driving license of a person who commits certain offences resulting in an injury, including passing a school bus with a stop sign displayed. HEA 1021 was amended, in the Senate, to include specifications for safety lights on school buses purchased and used for church buses. The vehicle may be equipped with red lamps, flashing lights and stop arms so long as this equipment is rendered inoperable. Previously, a seller of a school bus could have been convicted of a Class C misdemeanor if this equipment was left on the bus after it had been sold. The bill received a 98-0 vote in the House of Representatives and a 50-0 vote in the Senate. "It's satisfying to see a bill come full circle," said Rep. Crouch. "But it's even more satisfying to know drivers will be held to high standards of safety for our children in this state."
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