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An Act To Increase the Penalties for Illegally Passing a School Bus
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2308, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
 
6.  Penalty.     A violation of subsection 2 or 3 is a Class E crime, which notwithstanding Title 17-A, section 1301, is punishable by:
 
A.  A $500 fine and a suspension of a driver's license for not more than 30 days for the first offense; and
 
B.  A fine of not less than $1,000 and a suspension of a driver's license for not less than 30 days for a 2nd or subsequent offense occurring within 5 years of the first offense.
 
SUMMARY
This bill increases the penalties for passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing. The new penalties are:
1. A $500 fine and a suspension of a driver's license for not more than 30 days for the first offense; and
2. A fine of not less than $1,000 and a suspension of a driver's license for not less than 30 days for a 2nd or subsequent offense occurring within 5 years of the first offense.