HB 4214: Transportation: school vehicles; procedures when approaching a school bus displaying yellow flashing lights; modify. Amends secs. 601b & 682 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.601b & 257.682). - Michigan

Substitute (H-3) → Substitute (H-1) - 2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to remove section 907 from the list of sections being changed, effectively excluding the penalties for moving violations from this specific amendment. Additionally, the rules for stopping for school buses were updated: drivers must now prepare to stop immediately when seeing yellow flashing lights, and the law now explicitly requires school districts to provide camera footage to law enforcement upon request.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing section 907 (penalties for moving violations) from the list of amended sections, meaning those penalty provisions are not being modified by this specific version of the bill.

SCOPE

Section 907, which covers civil fines for moving violations, was removed from the list of sections being amended, so penalty amounts and procedures are not changed by this bill.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for drivers approaching a school bus with yellow flashing lights was strengthened; drivers must now prepare to stop immediately by reducing speed, rather than only stopping if it can be done safely.

ENFORCEMENT

A new requirement was added mandating that school districts must provide stop-arm camera footage to investigating law enforcement agencies if requested.

Substitute (H-1) → Substitute (H-3) · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill adds Section 907 to the Michigan Vehicle Code to establish a new penalty tier for failing to stop for a school bus when its yellow flashing lights are on. Previously, the law imposed a single fine range for all violations of school bus stop signals. The amendment now distinguishes between red lights and yellow lights, imposing a higher fine ($100-$500) for ignoring red lights and a lower fine ($100-$250) for ignoring yellow lights. It also clarifies that drivers are not required to make a full stop if doing so would be unsafe, instead requiring them to reduce speed and pass with caution.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Michigan Vehicle Code by adding a new section (907) specifically addressing school bus stop signal violations, while also updating the amendment references in the bill's title to include this new section.

REQUIREMENT

Added a specific requirement that drivers must bring a vehicle to a full stop only if it can be done safely when encountering a school bus with yellow flashing lights; otherwise, they must reduce speed and pass with caution.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified the civil fine structure for school bus violations by creating two tiers: $100-$500 for ignoring red lights and $100-$250 for ignoring yellow lights.

Updated the bill's title and amendment references to include Section 907 as a new area of the Michigan Vehicle Code being amended.

House Introduced Bill → Substitute (H-1) · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Michigan's traffic laws to increase penalties for moving violations in school zones and to clarify rules for stopping near school buses. The most significant change is the addition of a new penalty tier that doubles the fine for violations occurring during specific times around school hours or in school bus zones. Additionally, the definition of a 'school bus zone' is expanded to include areas within 20 feet of a bus with flashing yellow lights, not just red lights, and the requirements for drivers approaching a bus with flashing yellow lights are updated to require preparation to stop rather than an immediate full stop.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of penalties to include school bus zones with flashing yellow lights and extends the time frame for increased fines to cover the period before and after school hours.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new provision doubling fines for moving violations in school zones during the 30 minutes before and after school, or in school bus zones.

Modified the requirement for drivers approaching a school bus with flashing yellow lights from bringing the vehicle to a full stop to preparing to stop by reducing speed.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'school bus zone' to include the area within 20 feet of a bus displaying alternately flashing red or yellow lights.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that stop-arm camera evidence can be used for camera-based violations and requires school districts to provide captured images to law enforcement upon request.

Transportation: school vehicles; procedures when approaching a school bus displaying yellow flashing lights; modify. Amends secs. 601b & 682 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.601b & 257.682).

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