The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 69 authored by Sen. Niemeyer related to school bus stop arm violation enforcement. The bill creates an inference for the trier of fact that the registered owner of a vehicle was driving the vehicle when it was involved in passing a school bus when the arm signal device was in the extended position unless the registered owner of the vehicle routinely engages in the business of renting the vehicle for periods of 30 days or less. It also provides for the requested appointment of a special prosecutor by a school district superintendent if the county prosecutor is failing to enforce a significant number of school bus stop arm violations reported by the superintendent of a school district.
An amendment was adopted eliminating the exemption for car rental companies. Testimony in favor of the amended bill was presented by the Indiana State Teachers Association and the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council. The Indiana Public Defender Council presented testimony in opposition. The amended bill passed 6 – 3.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2021/bills/senate/69.