ATLANTA — Addy’s Law, a bill which increases fines and penalties for drivers who pass stopped school buses, cleared the Georgia General Assembly and now goes to Gov. Brian Kemp for final approval.
The bill passed both the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Senate Thursday.
The law is named after Rock Spring Elementary School student Adalynn Pierce, 8, who was struck by a car while getting on a school bus on Lake Jackson Road on Feb. 1. She later died from injuries she sustained in the wreck.
— The bill calls for public school systems to consider routes that don’t have stops requiring a student getting on a school bus to cross a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or greater.
— A driver who passes a school bus will be charged with a high and aggravated misdemeanor. The driver will be punished by a fine of no less than $1,000 and/or confinement of not more than 12 months.
— The civil monetary penalty will be increased from $250 to $1,000.
— On any second or subsequent violation, the bill allows for law enforcement to notify the driver’s insurance company of the violations.
Georgia District 117 Rep. Lauren Daniel, R-Locust Grove, introduced the bill in February.
“As a mother, I cannot imagine the immense amount of pain sweet Addy’s family is experiencing,” said Daniel at the time the bill was introduced. “After talking with her mother, I have dropped HB 1284 in an effort to prevent drivers from being reckless when near a school bus and to also hold them accountable when they are. I am hopeful this will bring awareness to the issue and that our community will continue to rally around this family during this difficult time.”
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