The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
A bill passed a Senate committee this morning that would make it a misdemeanor to consume any alcohol before operating a school bus.
HB1353, sponsored by Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge, came out of an incident in Harrisonburg, where, Cline said, a school bus driver was stopped when parents spotted him driving erratically.
A breathalyzer test revealed that, while he did not reach the .08 blood alcohol level required to be charged with driving under the influence, the driver had consumed some alcohol, Cline said. He was charged with felony child endangerment, but the charges were eventually withdrawn.
Cline’s bill would make consuming any amount of alcohol before driving a school bus a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Lawmakers on the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee said they were surprised it wasn't already a crime.
The bill has already been approved on the House side, and now heads to the full Senate for approval.
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yikes
We are already having to deal with kids getting shot at school, now we dont even know if they are going to make it there
really?
It's not already a law? I mean really...this is a perfect example that you would think common sense would come into play; but no. There is an idiot amongst the people. Darwinism at its finest. Sometimes I think we should release some laws and let the gene pool thin itself out a bit.
NC already has a law
NC the limit is .04
What?
It's pretty ironic that we put our most prized possesions into the hands of people who make about $8 an hour. Living below your means, being a stay at home parent, and taking care of your own kids is the best insurance you can buy.
DavidM, You've got it all wrong.
I have a CDL with endorsements for Class A tractor trailer, airbrakes, bulk tankers, double & triple trailers, hazmat, commercial passenger bus, motorcycle, and school bus. To recieve the school bus endorsement, one must first pass tests for CDL, commercial passenger bus, and school bus. If the buses have airbrakes that test is also required. There are also criminal background checks, DMV record checks, fingerprints, and a final road test in a school bus given by a state represenitive. Only a FOOL would drink before driving ANY of the aforementioned vehicles.
Once again...
common sense loses and more bureaucracy is injected in our lives.
Freaking amazing
What the *&^%( are we putting in the school bus's that we have to tell them they can't drink before driving our kids around. What kind of insanity is this? I'll admit, driving the kids around would certainly drive a person to drink. The driver should be inside a locked metal box, sound proof. Not responsible for anything but getting them there safe. Vehicular safe, not responsible for the beatings and mess going on behind them.
Finding someone had been drinking before such an assignment should put an end to any driving career they'd ever want again.
Commercial vehicle
Sorry, DavidM, but school buses ARE commercial vehicles. All school bus drivers must pass multiple commercial drivers license tests, matching those required for a tour bus driver, PLUS an additional School Bus test.
School buses are not considered a commercial vehicle
The state requires the bus drivers have a CDL, but the federal law that governs CDLs does not apply to school buses.
in regards to CDL, its
in regards to CDL, its generally required to operate any motor vehicle equipped with air brakes