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An Act

HOUSE BILL 98­1273

BY REPRESENTATIVES K. Alexander, Allen, Hagedorn, Mace, Paschall, and Smith;

also SENATORS Congrove, Bishop, Feeley, Hernandez, J. Johnson, Linkhart, Martinez, Mutzebaugh, Pascoe, Perlmutter, Phillips, Rupert, Schroeder, Thiebaut, and Weddig.

CONCERNING SCHOOL BUS OPERATION PROCEDURES TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1.  42­4­1903 (2) (b) (I) and (5), Colorado Revised Statutes, are amended to read:

42­4­1903.  School buses ­ stops ­ signs ­ passing. (2) (b) (I)  The red visual signal lights shall be actuated by the driver of the school bus whenever the school bus is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging schoolchildren, IS STOPPED BECAUSE IT IS BEHIND ANOTHER SCHOOL BUS THAT IS RECEIVING OR DISCHARGING PASSENGERS, OR, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (4) OF THIS SECTION, IS STOPPED BECAUSE IT HAS MET A SCHOOL BUS TRAVELING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAT IS RECEIVING OR DISCHARGING PASSENGERS and at no other time; but such lights need not be actuated when a school bus is stopped at locations where the local traffic regulatory authority has by prior written designation declared such actuation unnecessary.

(5)  Every school bus shall stop as far to the right of the roadway as possible before discharging or loading passengers; and, EXCEPT THAT THE SCHOOL BUS MAY BLOCK THE LANE OF TRAFFIC WHEN A PASSENGER BEING RECEIVED OR DISCHARGED IS REQUIRED TO CROSS THE ROADWAY. When possible, A SCHOOL BUS shall not stop where the visibility is obscured for a distance of two hundred feet either way from the bus. The driver of a school bus which THAT has stopped shall allow time for any vehicles which THAT have stopped behind the school bus to pass the school bus, if such passing is legally permissible where the school bus is stopped, after the visual signal lights, if any, are no longer being displayed or actuated and after all children who have embarked or disembarked from the bus are safe from traffic.

SECTION 2.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.



____________________________ ____________________________

Charles E. Berry Tom Norton

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF

OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE





____________________________ ____________________________

Judith M. Rodrigue Patricia K. Dicks

CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF

OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE



APPROVED________________________________________




_________________________________________

Roy Romer

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO


Created: 3/25/98 Updated: 3/25/98