House OKs doubling fine for passing stopped school bus
SPRINGFIELD - Drivers who don't stop for school buses would see much steeper fines under a proposal that passed the state House on Thursday.
House Bill 1873, sponsored by GOP Rep. Darren Bailey of Xenia, would double the fine for first offenses to $300 from $150. The fine for second offenses would rise to $1,000 from $500.
The measure passed the House on Thursday morning by a vote of 74-16, with 12 representatives voting present after extended and heated debate.
Bailey called the bill a matter of "public safety, to protect schoolchildren as they load and unload off buses."
Critics said increasing penalties don't deter people from violating the law, and provide extra hardship for those who have the least ability to pay them.
Chicago Democrat Melissa Conyears-Ervin was the first to voice opposition, saying she could not support the bill if the public were not educated about it simultaneously.
"Residents that can't pay it may lose their license, may in turn not be able to go to work, and may in turn not be able to put food on the table for their children," she said. "There are people that will have no clue of this legislation, and all the bill will do is put them in a deeper hole."
Bailey said he'd be willing to work with her on educating the public about the change in fine structure, because education "is what will raise the awareness to protect our children."
Others, like Jacksonville Republican C.D. Davidsmeyer, said a driver's first violation of the law should be enough education.
Plainfield GOP Rep. Mark Batinick, one of the bill's sponsors, said even with the doubled fines, Illinois' laws for failing to stop for school buses are weak.
"I'm sitting over here stunned that we're putting the price tag to say (an extra) $150 is too much for a school kid," Batinick said.
Minnesota, he said, has a $500 fine and 90 days of jail time for a first offense.
Bailey said Illinois school bus drivers reported more than 20,000 instances where buses were passed while the "STOP" arm was out in 2017, according to a survey by ABC 7 in Chicago.
The measure now moves to the Senate.