SC House Passes Bill to Increase Fine for Passing a Stopped School Bus

Last week, the South Carolina House approved a bill that will increase penalties for passing a stopped school bus and requires all buses to have longer stop sign arms to extend across a lane of traffic. The bill also gives the state Education Superintendent the power to move a bus stop if it’s deemed to be at a dangerous location.

Currently, the fine for passing a stopped bus is $500. The proposed bill raises the minimum fine to $1,000 for a first offense and $2,500 for subsequent offenses. More than $10 million in funding is needed, however, to buy and install the new, longer stop arms on all of South Carolina’s school buses.

The bill will now go on to the State Senate for passage, as well, before it reaches Governor McMaster’s desk.