A resolution requesting the Metropolitan Board of Public Education to examine the feasibility of installing video cameras on the side of school buses to assist law enforcement officers in prosecuting drivers that fail to stop for a school bus loading or discharging children.

WHEREAS, a 2002 national study on school bus loading and unloading zones conducted by the Kansas State Department of Education found that 1,102 students have been killed by another vehicle while boarding or exiting a school bus; and

WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated § 35-8-151 provides that it is a Class B misdemeanor for the driver of a vehicle to fail to stop for a school bus that has stopped with red flashing lights and the stop arm extended for the purpose of receiving or discharging children; and

WHEREAS, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety, out of the 3,243 citations issued by the Tennessee Highway Patrol in school zones across the state, only sixty citations were issued to drivers who illegally passed school buses; and

WHEREAS, many products are currently available to assist law enforcement officers in prosecuting drivers who fail to stop for school buses, including video cameras that discreetly mount on the side of the bus which captures video of vehicles as they approach a stopped school bus and as they pass the extended stop arm; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Board of Education consider installing these video devices to help prosecute school bus stop violators.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Metropolitan Board of Public Education to examine the feasibility of installing video cameras on the side of school buses to assist law enforcement officers in prosecuting drivers that fail to stop for a school bus loading or discharging children.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to Director of Schools Dr. Pedro Garcia, and to each member of the Metropolitan Board of Public Education.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Jim Forkum