PRINTER'S NO. 1503
No. 1217 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY SIPTROTH, DERMODY, DALEY, FABRIZIO, JAMES, KOTIK,
KULA, MYERS, SANTONI, TANGRETTI AND YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 4, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MAY 4, 2007
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, further providing for meeting or overtaking school
3 bus and for general requirements for other vehicles
4 transporting school children.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Section 3345 heading, (g) and (j) of Title 75 of
8 the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended and the
9 section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
10 § 3345. Meeting or overtaking school bus or school vehicle.
11 * * *
12 (f.2) School vehicles.--
13 (1) At speeds of 35 miles per hour or less, the driver
14 of a school vehicle shall activate the school vehicle's
15 hazard warning lights, otherwise known as four-way flashers,
16 not less than 100 feet traveled before stopping. At speeds in
17 excess of 35 miles per hour, the hazard warning lights shall
18 be activated not less than 300 feet traveled before stopping.
19 (2) The driver of a vehicle traveling in the same
1 direction as a school vehicle shall not pass or overtake the
2 school vehicle:
3 (i) While the school vehicle is stopped to pick up
4 or discharge school children.
5 (ii) Immediately preceding and following the school
6 vehicle's stop.
7 (iii) While the school vehicle has activated four-
8 way flashers.
9 (3) Except as provided in subsection (g), the driver of
10 a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction as a school
11 vehicle shall proceed past the school vehicle using caution
12 and whenever possible shall do so at a reduced speed.
13 (g) Exceptions from stopping requirements.--The driver of a
14 vehicle upon a highway or trafficway with separate roadways need
15 not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus with actuated red
16 signal lights or a school vehicle which is on a different
17 roadway.
18 * * *
19 (j) Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) [or],
20 (f.1) or (f.2) commits a summary offense and shall, upon
21 conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $250.
22 Section 2. Section 4553(c) of Title 75 is amended to read:
23 § 4553. General requirements for other vehicles transporting
24 school children.
25 * * *
26 (c) [Other] School vehicles.--A [motor] school vehicle [used
27 to transport children to or from school or in connection with
28 school activities, which is not a school bus because of its
29 limited seating capacity,] shall comply with regulations
30 established by the department for such vehicles. Unless required
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1 by Federal law or regulation, the regulations established by the
2 department shall not require school vehicles which pick up and
3 discharge school children only at locations off the highway to
4 be of any particular color or to display flashing red and amber
5 lights. The department shall establish additional identification
6 requirements for school vehicles that pick up and discharge
7 school children on a highway or trafficway. These requirements
8 shall at the minimum provide for additional lighting and signage
9 on the roof to be activated when picking up or discharging
10 students on a highway or trafficway.
11 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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