Rep. Crouch Victorious (STATEHOUSE) March 19, 2009 - The Senate today unanimously passed a bill, authored by Rep. Suzanne Crouch, that should make school bus rides safer for Hoosier children. By a 50-0 vote, the Senate approved House Bill 1021, which increases the penalty for passing a school bus when its "Stop" arm is extended. "This is a victory for school children across the state," said Rep. Crouch (R-Evansville). "But it's a special victory for Kasey Groves, who was hit by a car when she was getting off a school bus in 2007. I hope it brings her family some peace knowing the Indiana General Assembly considers what happened to Kasey a serious offense." In November 2007, Kasey was hit and injured by a motorist who disregarded the extended "Stop" arm on Kasey's school bus. The incident happened in Rep. Crouch's district. Kasey's mother, Krista Groves, wanted action, and HB 1021 was the result. The bill requires the court to recommend that the driver's license be suspended for anyone who causes injury while passing a school bus with an extended "Stop" arm. The bill increases the offense from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor, meaning the maximum fine is increased from $1,000 to $5,000. "These accidents simply should not happen," said Rep. Crouch. "There is no reason a parent should have to worry about a child coming home on a school bus. I hope this bill will cause motorists to drive more carefully." In the House, the bill received a unanimous vote of 98-0. The bill will become law once it is signed by Gov. Mitch Daniels. |
