School Bus-Passing Offenses May Become Doubly Ex$pen$ive

Mind those flashing amber and red lights on school buses, or prepare to dig deeper. Illegally passing a school bus will be a much more costly violation under a shore-based bill that's headed for full state Senate consideration.

Republican Senators Robert Singer (R-30) and Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-21) co-sponsor the measure that would double fines to $200 for first-time offenses, and $500 for subsequent violations. The bill also continues the current provision for 15 days of jail time or community service. S-1535 won approval today in the Senate Transportation Committee.