ENTITLED An Act to modify laws regarding school bus safety and to provide a penalty therefor.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 32-32-6 be AMENDED:

32-32-6. The operator of a motor vehicle on a highway that has less than two lanes of travel in each direction, or on a private road, when approaching a school bus that has its amber warning lights flashing, shall reduce the speed of the vehicle to fifteen miles per hour or less and proceed past the school bus with caution. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a school bus that has its red signal lights flashing shall make a complete stop. The stopped vehicle must be at least fifteen feet from the school bus and must remain stopped until the flashing red signal lights are extinguished. A lane that is designated solely for the purpose of turning is not considered a lane of travel for purposes of this section.

The operator of a motor vehicle on a highway providing two or more lanes of travel in each direction does not need to reduce the speed of the vehicle when approaching a school bus that is traveling in the opposite direction if the school bus has its amber warning lights flashing. The operator of a motor vehicle on a highway providing two or more lanes of travel in each direction does not need to stop when approaching a school bus that is traveling in the opposite direction even though the school bus is stopped and has its red signal lights flashing.

The operator of a motor vehicle on a highway providing two or more lanes of travel in each direction, when approaching a school bus that is traveling in the same direction and has its amber warning lights flashing, shall reduce the speed of the vehicle to fifteen miles per hour or less and proceed past the school bus with caution. The operator of a motor vehicle on a highway providing two or more lanes of travel in each direction must make a complete stop when approaching a school bus traveling in the same direction if the school bus is stopped and its red signal lights are flashing.

A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Section 2. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 32-32:

If any school bus, as defined in § 32-32-1, is transporting students enrolled in a school district in this state and is equipped with an external video system capable of recording traffic activity around the bus, any recording from that video system is discoverable and may be entered into evidence in any civil or criminal action.

No district or bus company is required to install an external video system under this Act.

An Act to modify laws regarding school bus safety and to provide a penalty therefor.