Georgia's Governor, Brian Kemp, has put his signature on what's being called the toughest school bus law in the nation, named Addy’s Law, which hikes the minimum fine for illegally passing a stopped school bus up to a jaw-dropping $1,000, as reported by 11Alive. This legislative move sends a crystal-clear message to motorists that the safety of the state's schoolchildren is a top-shelf priority.
Comparison with other states' fines reveals that Georgia's new law is indeed the country's strictest—or at least will be when it comes into effect on July 1, sharing the pedestal only with Utah, which passed a similar measure effective in May, and in a landscape where fines of $250 and $500 are far more common, Georgia stands out. Jacob Gresham, Technology Director for Peach County, attested to the frequency of these traffic violations, saying, "We have on almost a daily basis instances where people do blow by the stop arms, and do blow by the buses," notably in a region where buses ferry no less than 2,000 potential future leaders daily, according to an interview by 13WMAZ.
Beyond just escalating fines, the new law could slap violators with a jail sentence spanning up to a year—it's not just about punishing the pocket but sending folks behind bars to contemplate the seriousness of school zone safety. Notably, Gresham highlighted that while fining people is not the ultimate goal, "the increased focus on that safety will help," a sentiment echoed during his interview with 13WMAZ.
The crackdown extends to district-level logistics as well, with the law urging the crafting of safer bus routes that don't require students to cross major roadways. Houston County mother Sandy Alcorn, mother to three bus-riding kids, said, "I would definitely reconsider letting them ride the bus if they didn't get on right in front of the house," acknowledging the perilous reality of the busy roads, in statements obtained by 13WMAZ. Clear as day, the implications of Addy’s Law go beyond mere fines, wagering that the beefed-up consequences for reckless drivers will indeed steer behavior toward the lane of caution to ensure that each child steps off the bus not into the path of peril but toward the promise that awaits them each school day.
In the meantime, job fairs for bus drivers are being actively held by local counties, indicating perhaps a push to staff up a transport system now seen as safer, thanks also to the vigilant eye of bus-mounted cameras, a feature underlined by Addy’s Law, as per information from 11Alive. With wheels of progress turning, Georgia seems to be drawing a line on the asphalt that cries: 'The safety of our children shall not be passed.'
