Safer school bus drivers (new law)

Putting safer drivers behind the wheel of school buses is the goal of a new law signed May 1 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Sponsored by Rep. Karla Bigham (DFL-Cottage Grove) and Sen. Rick Olseen (DFL-Harris), the law applies to “type III buses,” which are vehicles such as vans, cars, station wagons and small-sized buses with a capacity of 10 or fewer passengers and a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less.

The law places a number of new restrictions on drivers of type III vehicles, including:

• banning the use of cell phones for personal calls while driving;

• prohibiting drivers from having any level of alcohol in their bloodstream while driving;

• requiring that drivers pass a background check, physical examination, and drug and alcohol testing;

• banning individuals convicted of second-, third- or fourth-degree driving-while-impaired offenses within the last five years from operating a type III vehicle;

• disqualifying anyone convicted of a felony, controlled-substance charges, or any of a variety of sexual-related crimes from driving a type III vehicle; and

• prohibiting drivers with four or more moving violations within the space of three years from operating type III vehicles for one year from the date of the last offense.

Bigham said the proposal was inspired by a report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on school district student transportation.

The law takes effect Sept. 1, 2008.

HF3575/SF2988*/CH271