THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, BRADFORD, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, DePASQUALE, GEORGE, HORNAMAN, JAMES, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MANN, McGEEHAN, NEILSON, ROEBUCK AND WATERS, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012  

AN ACT

Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes, further providing for meeting or overtaking school

bus and for general requirements for other vehicles

transporting school children.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 3345 heading, (g) and (j) of Title 75 of

the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended and the

section is amended by adding a subsection to read:

§ 3345.  Meeting or overtaking school bus or school vehicle.

* * *

(f.2)  School vehicles.--

(1)  At speeds of 35 miles per hour or less, the driver

of a school vehicle shall activate the school vehicle's

hazard warning lights, otherwise known as four-way flashers,

not less than 100 feet traveled before stopping. At speeds in

excess of 35 miles per hour, the hazard warning lights shall

be activated not less than 300 feet traveled before stopping.

(2)  The driver of a vehicle traveling in the same

direction as a school vehicle shall not pass or overtake the

school vehicle:

(i)  While the school vehicle is stopped to pick up

or discharge school children.

(ii)  Immediately preceding and following the school

vehicle's stop.

(iii)  While the school vehicle has activated four-

way flashers.

(3)  Except as provided in subsection (g), the driver of

a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction as a school

vehicle shall proceed past the school vehicle using caution

and whenever possible shall do so at a reduced speed.

(g)  Exceptions from stopping requirements.--The driver of a

vehicle upon a highway or trafficway with separate roadways need

not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus with actuated red

signal lights or a school vehicle which is on a different

roadway.

* * *

(j)  Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) [or], 

(f.1) or (f.2) commits a summary offense and shall, upon

conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $250.

Section 2.  Section 4553(c) of Title 75 is amended to read:

§ 4553.  General requirements for other vehicles transporting

school children.

* * *

(c)  [Other] School vehicles.--A [motor] school vehicle [used

to transport children to or from school or in connection with

school activities, which is not a school bus because of its

limited seating capacity,] shall comply with regulations

established by the department for such vehicles. Unless required

by Federal law or regulation, the regulations established by the

department shall not require school vehicles which pick up and

discharge school children only at locations off the highway to

be of any particular color or to display flashing red and amber

lights. The department shall establish additional identification

requirements for school vehicles that pick up and discharge

school children on a highway or trafficway. These requirements

shall at the minimum provide for additional lighting and signage

on the roof to be activated when picking up or discharging

students on a highway or trafficway.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.