Officials remind drivers of Iowa?s new school bus law

CEDAR RAPIDS (AP) ? As schools across the state prepare for a new school year, officials are reminding Iowa drivers of a new law that increases penalties for failing to heed school bus warning devices.

Kadyn?s Law was passed by the Iowa Legislature in March and signed into law by Gov. Terry Branstad. It?s named for Kadyn Halverson, a 7-year-old girl who was hit by a pickup and killed last year while walking to her bus. The driver of the truck, Aaron Gunderson, of Northwood, was sentenced in January to 15 years in prison.

Mandy Norris, of Cedar Rapids, said she and her two children live on a busy corner where the school bus stops, so she?s thankful for the new law.

Her children?s bus driver has done what he can to encourage other drivers to slow down at the busy corner, including stopping at a slight angle, Norris told The Gazette of Cedar Rapids.

?It makes it so that the oncoming car can?t sneak around, and a car from behind has to stop,? she said.

Under the new law, failure to slow for a bus with flashing lights or stop when the bus? stop arm is extended can result in fines up to $675 and 30 days in jail. The fine had previously been $200.

Penalties increase with additional violations. Causing serious injury brings a maximum fine of $500 and license suspension of up to 90 days. Causing a death doubles the penalties.

Before the new law, about 625 people were convicted of school bus violations annually in Iowa, state officials have said.