(a) No driver shall operate a school bus as defined by § 55-8-101 anywhere in this state while using a portable electronic device:
(1) While the vehicle is in motion and while the vehicle is transporting one (1) or more children; or
(2) When the vehicle is stopped for the purposes of loading or unloading one (1) or more children from the vehicle.
(b) As used in this section, “portable electronic device” means any:
(1) Mobile, cellular, analog, wireless, or digital telephone;
(2) Personal digital assistant;
(3) Hand-held device with mobile data access;
(4) Laptop computer;
(5) Pager;
(6) Broadband personal communication device;
(7) Two-way messaging device;
(8) Electronic game;
(9) Camera;
(10) Portable computing device;
(11) Global positioning system, if the driver is using at least one (1) hand to hold the device or to enter data into the device while the school bus is in motion; or
(12) Electronic device used to input, write, send, receive, read, or view text or media for present or future communication.
(c) This section shall not apply to:
(1) Two-way radio communications, or any device used in a similar manner as two-way radio communications, made to and from a central dispatch, school transportation department, or its equivalent; or
(2) The use of a device capable of voice communication to report an emergency to the 911 system, a law enforcement agency, fire department, or emergency medical provider.
(d) A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a minimum period of confinement of not less than thirty (30) days; a minimum fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000); and the court shall order that a person convicted of violating this section is permanently prohibited from operating a school bus as defined by § 55-8-101 in this state.
Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.
LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.
The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.
You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.
The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.
Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.