ALBANY, NY (10/31/2013)(readMedia)-- The New York Association for Pupil Transportation is proud to cite Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I-Olean) as a 2013 Legislator of the Year. Our recognition of her work is based primarily on her introduction of legislation that would allow evidence collected by Stop Arm Cameras to be used to prosecute motorists who pass stopped school buses illegally.
NYAPT President Richard Gallagher noted that "illegal passing of stopped school buses is a real danger to our children. Our students trust that motorists will obey the law and stop for their school buses. It is so important that motorist stop for school buses. If they don't, they should be penalized. Senator Young's proposed law will allow us to apprehend and penalize those who violate the law."
NYAPT estimates that more than 50,000 motorists pass stopped school buses each and every day of the school year. In recent surveys of school bus drivers, the incidence of illegal passing was even higher than the 50,000 level. Increasingly, school bus drivers are reporting vehicles passing their buses on the curb or passenger side where children are lined up to board the bus and where they step off the bus to return to their homes.
Senator Young's legislation, which is sponsored in the State Assembly by Assembly Member William Magnarelli (D-Syracuse), would achieve the following objectives if enacted:
NYAPT praised Senator Young for her hard work in bringing together the various elements of this legislation. NYAPT Executive Director, Peter Mannella, noted that "NYAPT has long advocated for a multi-level approach that includes: (1) increasing public awareness of the laws related to illegal passing, (2) increasing the penalties for illegal passing particularly when a child is injured or killed, and (3) facilitating the use of stop arm cameras to aid in prosecution. Senator Young's legislative proposal (S5028/A7350) will achieve each of those objectives and we are proud to endorse this legislation. We will work tirelessly in the upcoming legislative session to get this bill passed. It is our hope that this legislation will be passed by the Legislature before the 10th commemoration of the death of 8-year-old Mallory Eddy on May 21, 2004, by a motorist who passed her stopped school bus on the passenger side of the bus."
NYAPT members presented Senator Young with the Legislator of the Year award at a ceremony held in her Olean district office on October 31, 2013.
This year, the Association also cited Senator Charles Fuschillo as a Legislator of the Year for his legislation and advocacy related to drug and alcohol testing of school bus drivers.