State of Knowledge for Illegal Passing of School Bus Violation Enforcement & Model Law-

After the completion of the State Laws digest on illegal passing, a more in-depth review or state of knowledge report is needed to determine if a model law for illegal passing would help with the consistency of enforcement of these driving violations. More clarity if needed on how currently laws are enforced to help better inform States to improve enforcement of these laws. The state laws digest informed that laws vary in content, organization, consistency, and clarity. Also, that what may constitute illegal behavior in one jurisdiction may not be prohibited in a neighboring one. States also vary in their methods to review, document and report violations including permissibility of stop-arm cameras. This report is needed to give clarity on how States can best improve enforcement of these law. To address this need, this project will review the current research and practice of enforcement of the law against illegal passing of school buses. This study will provide if a model law would be necessary for continuity among enforcement within the U.S States and provide best example of a model law.

Objective(s):
The objectives of this project include reviewing current research and practices related to the enforcement of laws against illegal passing of school buses and determining whether a model law would be beneficial for uniform enforcement across States. The study will also provide best examples of a potential model law. Key tasks will involve conducting a comprehensive literature review on existing laws and enforcement practices, analyzing findings from the State Laws digest, and gathering data on how States document and report violations, including the use of stop-arm cameras. Additionally, the project will consult with law enforcement, pupil transportation professionals, educational stakeholders, and any other stakeholder group that is deemed relevant to gather insights.

Details of key tasks:

-Comprehensive Literature Review: Conduct a thorough review of existing enforcement practices of laws against illegal passing in a various number of States across the U.S., 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A key document in this review to reference is the NHTSA State Laws Report.

-Identify Gaps: Identify and document the key differences in state laws, and if these areas may cause confusion within the States law between traffic law statues.

-Final Report on Findings: Create a detailed report on the findings of the review, with key takeaways and improvements recommended to determine if a model law would be beneficial.

-Develop Example Model Law Language: Based on research conducted and working with pupil transportation stakeholders and law enforcement and judicial community, develop best example universal model law language for illegal passing of school buses.

• TBD