Editorials Call For Higher Fines After ISU Releases Report on Kadyn's Law

Iowa newspapers are calling on judges across the state to levy higher fines for school bus safety violations after learning that a majority of offenders received minimum fines.

Both the The Sioux City Journal and the Globe Gazette said heftier fines were necessary if the new Kadyn's Law was going to be effective.

A recent Iowa State University study showed that 65 percent of violators were not assessed a higher fine required by Kadyn's Law, according to a report on KAAL TV.

The school bus safety study and higher fines for violators were both requirements of Kadyn's Law, named for a girl who was struck and killed boarding her school bus.

The law allows school bus safety violators to be fined a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $675 for violating stop arm laws. But ISU's study found that a handful of violators were fined a mere $60, according to the study available online.

“A review of the “failure to stop for a school bus” convictions between August 15 and October 31 showed that even though Kadyn’s Law requires a minimum fine of $250 for the first offense, 105 of the 162 convictions (65 percent) had a fine amount of less than $250,” the University study stated.

The Sioux City Journal wrote in a recent editorial that it was possible that judges were not aware of the increased fines.

“For this important legislation to work the way it was designed, all judges in Iowa must be on board. Only by full enforcement of the strong penalties in Kadyn's Law can our state convey the seriousness with which it views these school bus violations.

A $60 fine doesn't send the proper message.”

The Globe Gazette said while judges might have been able to claim ignorance when issuing reduced penalties no one can say that now.

“A notice was sent to judges Nov. 15 reminding them of the change.

There’s no questioning the importance of this law. An Iowa State and University of Iowa study on school bus safety in Iowa — required by the passage of Kadyn’s Law — drew headlines when it highlighted the dangers of vehicles that illegally pass stopped buses. The potential for tragedy is there every time a school bus stops to pick up or drop off a child.

That’s why every person who breaks the law must receive the higher fine. And the word has to get out to everyone who drives a car: Passing a stopped school bus with its lights flashing is a very serious violation,” The Globe Gazette wrote.