Ohio lawmakers pass bill that would increase penalties for passing a stopped school bus, add cameras

Ohio lawmakers finalized House Bill 3 last week, increasing penalties for illegally passing a stopped school bus from fines of $0–$500 to $250–$1,000, with repeat offenses risking license suspension and a $2,000 fine. The bill also authorizes school bus cameras to record violations, a measure supported by lawmakers like Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, who highlighted 16,000 citations issued by the Ohio State Highway Patrol between 2018 and August 2023. The legislation stems from the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group, formed in 2023 after 5-year-old Aiden Clark died in a school bus crash. While the group recommended 17 safety measures last year, it did not advocate for mandatory seatbelts, which remain optional on buses over 10,000 pounds despite 63% of Ohio districts already using them. Only eight states mandate seatbelts, and three—Nevada, Arkansas, and New York—combine them with camera laws like Ohio’s proposed measure. Supporters argue the bill deters reckless driving, with Sen. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson, calling it a step toward protecting children. Critics, including Republican Sens. Nathan Manning and Kristina Roegner, opposed the measure, though the final vote passed overwhelmingly. The National Transportation Safety Board has urged states to adopt over-the-shoulder and lap seatbelts, citing 976 fatal school-transportation crashes from 2013–2022. The bill now heads to Governor Mike DeWine, who must sign or veto it. If enacted, Ohio will join states using cameras to enforce school bus safety, though seatbelt requirements remain off the table for now.