New Kentucky law changes when drivers must stop for school buses

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — Kentucky drivers will need to follow new rules when approaching stopped school and church buses as students return to class.

House Bill 7 took effect earlier this month. The law expands when drivers traveling in the opposite direction must stop and allows school districts to install cameras on buses to catch illegal passing.

Drivers must now stop on four-lane roads unless the roadway is separated by a raised barrier or an unpaved median.

“Everybody needs to stop,” Kentucky State Police Public Affairs Officer Trooper Katan Parker said. “The only reason why they wouldn’t stop is if the median is raised or if it’s not paved.”

School districts may install cameras on the outside of buses to record vehicles that pass while warning lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended.

A first camera violation carries a $300 civil penalty. Additional violations carry a $500 penalty. The money collected stays with the school district operating the cameras.

A law enforcement officer or school resource officer must review the footage and confirm a violation before a notice is issued.

Rep. George Brown Jr. of Lexington, who co-sponsored the bill, said the measure is aimed at protecting children as they get on and off buses.

“It was a common-sense bill, in my opinion,” Brown said. “We have people that are disrespecting the sanctity and the safety of our children getting off school buses.”

Brown said children should also pay attention to traffic, but drivers have a responsibility to stop.

“The fact is, we have some children that are being hurt and possibly been killed,” he said.

The law also places responsibility on a vehicle’s registered owner. If authorities cannot identify the driver, the law presumes the owner or lessee was behind the wheel.

Rep. Daniel Grossberg of Louisville, another co-sponsor of the bill, said the law gives schools and police more ways to address dangerous driving.

“House Bill 7 provides additional tools to deter dangerous driving around school buses and hold violators accountable, helping make Kentucky’s roads safer for our students and the communities they call home,” Grossberg said.

Police are asking drivers to slow down near bus stops and stop as soon as a bus activates its flashing lights.

“My advice is that whenever you see a school bus light start flashing, just stop and wait for it to move again,” Parker said. “I understand it’s an inconvenience to some people, but at the same time, keep kids’ safety at the forefront of your mind.”