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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY SIPTROTH, BEYER, D. COSTA, DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, GRUCELA, JOHNSON, KORTZ, MAHONEY, McILVAINE SMITH, MILLARD, MURT, SCAVELLO, K. SMITH AND VULAKOVICH, MARCH 19, 2009 |
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| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 19, 2009 |
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| AN ACT |
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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. |
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1 | (2) The driver of a vehicle traveling in the same |
2 | direction as a school vehicle shall not pass or overtake the |
3 | school vehicle: |
4 | (i) While the school vehicle is stopped to pick up |
5 | or discharge school children. |
6 | (ii) Immediately preceding and following the school |
7 | vehicle's stop. |
8 | (iii) While the school vehicle has activated four- |
9 | way flashers. |
10 | (3) Except as provided in subsection (g), the driver of |
11 | a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction as a school |
12 | vehicle shall proceed past the school vehicle using caution |
13 | and whenever possible shall do so at a reduced speed. |
14 | (g) Exceptions from stopping requirements.--The driver of a |
15 | vehicle upon a highway or trafficway with separate roadways need |
16 | not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus with actuated red |
17 | signal lights or a school vehicle which is on a different |
18 | roadway. |
19 | * * * |
20 | (j) Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) [or], |
21 | (f.1) or (f.2) commits a summary offense and shall, upon |
22 | conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $250. |
23 | Section 2. Section 4553(c) of Title 75 is amended to read: |
24 | § 4553. General requirements for other vehicles transporting |
25 | school children. |
26 | * * * |
27 | (c) [Other] School vehicles.--A [motor] school vehicle [used |
28 | to transport children to or from school or in connection with |
29 | school activities, which is not a school bus because of its |
30 | limited seating capacity,] shall comply with regulations |
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1 | established by the department for such vehicles. Unless required |
2 | by Federal law or regulation, the regulations established by the |
3 | department shall not require school vehicles which pick up and |
4 | discharge school children only at locations off the highway to |
5 | be of any particular color or to display flashing red and amber |
6 | lights. The department shall establish additional identification |
7 | requirements for school vehicles that pick up and discharge |
8 | school children on a highway or trafficway. These requirements |
9 | shall at the minimum provide for additional lighting and signage |
10 | on the roof to be activated when picking up or discharging |
11 | students on a highway or trafficway. |
12 | Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. |
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