A new law regarding when motorists are allowed to pass a school bus is in effect due to an “alarming number of drivers who illegally pass school buses with deployed stop arms each day,” state Rep. Samara Heavin saidKentucky House Bill 7 strengthens the existing school bus passing law by requiring “traffic in the opposite direction of a school or church bus to stop for the bus on a highway that is not divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median.” The fine for breaking the new law is $300 for a first offense and $500 for a second offense (within a three-year period). The new law also:Allow[s] the use of camera monitoring systems on school buses operated by a school district and allow the enforcement of a civil penalty for stop arm camera violations recorded by a camera monitoring systemRequire[s] that the revenue generated from a civil penalty be retained by the school districtAllow[s] for suspension of motor vehicle registration for failure to timely pay a penaltyRequire[s] a school district or law enforcement agency to notify the Transportation Cabinet of the need to release a motor vehicle registration suspension within 1 business day of paymentThe bill became law on July 7. State Rep. Samara Heavrin explains the reasons behind the passage of the new law