House Bill 344, a bill to lower the fines for passing a stopped school bus, has a committee hearing on Wednesday, March 5. Crossover day, the last day for a bill to pass its original chamber, is Thursday this week.
Lawmakers approved last year “Addy’s Law” in memory of McDonough eight-year-old Adalynn Pierce. The 2024 legislation increased the fine to $1,000.
School Bus Fines Committee Hearing
House Bill 344, as introduced, would lower the fine when a motorist passes a stopped school bus with its stop sign out to $300 for a first-time offense, $500 for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third and subsequent offenses. Presently, any offense results in the $1,000 fine.
The House Committee on Motor Vehicles considered revising the fine to be $500 per offense. However, the bill was withdrawn from that committee before they took action on it. Instead, the bill is now assigned to the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. They can consider the bill in its original form, consider the first committee’s comments, and / or make amendments of their own.
Rep Kahaian (R-Locust Grove) shared on her Facebook page the committee hearing will be on Wednesday, March 5, from 12 pm to 2 pm. Update: The committee meeting link is here. It will be available to view online at 12 pm.
Community Support of Addy’s Law
Numerous media reports and social media posts have gone viral in recent weeks with commenters in support of Addy’s Law. News outlets in Atlanta, Macon and Savannah have all covered the topic. One such article from WSB-TV highlighted comments after the bill’s sponsor, Rep Parsons from Marietta, made a Facebook post explaining his reasoning for the bill. He considers the $1,000 fine too high and to be a burden on families. The comments have been overwhelmingly in opposition to his bill. Multiple vehicles around Henry County have also been spotted sporting messages to “Save Addy’s Law.”
Featured image shows a school bus with “Save Addy’s Law” written on the back. Special photo / Facebook.
