Even before last week’s bus stop tragedy, State Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-Ellisville) was concerned with the disregard some drivers show around those vehicles.
McDaniel said he plans to resubmit a bill increasing the penalties for passing a school bus following last Friday’s incident that claimed the life of 5-year-old Nathaniel Glenn Key. Key, a kindergartner at North Jones Elementary, was struck by a vehicle as he was exiting a school bus near his home on Houston Road. He was transported to South Central Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Dominic Gebben, 23, of Laurel, is charged with manslaughter-culpable negligence and felony fleeing in a motor vehicle in connection with Key’s death. Gebben is currently being held in the Jones County Adult Detention Facility on a $1 million cash bond.
McDaniel said that hearing about the tragedy broke his heart as a father.
“It absolutely took the wind out of me,” he said. “It’s hard to describe what being a father does, but losing Nathan really touched me. I’ll never forget it, never in a million years.”
Neither will Key’s parents, Andy and Lori Key, who McDaniel said he has talked to by telephone.
“We’re going to do our best to create a ‘Nathan’s Law’ essentially,” McDaniel said. “They’re going to be very supportive. I want their input on the law, to the extent that I want them to research this area and encourage their input. We’ve got to find something positive out of this tragedy.”
According to Mississippi Law, a motorist who “willingly, intentionally and unlawfully fails to stop for a school bus, clearly marked as such, which was stopped on a street or road for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children and wait for the children to cross the street or highway and for the school bus to proceed in the direction it was going” faces a minimum fine of $200 and a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or three years in prison.
McDaniel said that after hearing some complaints, he introduced Senate Bill No. 3008 for the 2009 regular session.
“I decided to introduce the bill this year because, obviously, the old penalty wasn’t substantial enough to really warrant serious consideration,” he said. “The idea was to take the bill, increase the penalty and make it where the penalty cannot be reduced. I also wanted to give a second penalty of an even higher nature.”
Under McDaniel’s proposal, drivers violating the law “upon conviction thereof shall be fined $500; upon a second or subsequent conviction, the person shall be fined not less than $800, or imprisoned for not more than one year or both. Fines imposed shall be neither reduced nor suspended.”
McDaniel said that he thought the bill would be common sense and easily go through committee.
“The chairman of the Judiciary B committee decided not to bring it out,” he said. “They did not even vote on it this past year. What I want to do to this year is resubmit that same bill, but really take the time to create a comprehensive school bus safety bill.”
McDaniel added that he doesn’t believe his bill was ignored from a malicious standpoint.
“Perhaps this type of bill didn’t seem quite as important,” he said. “Now, in retrospect, it seems very, very important.”
McDaniel said that he wants to not only make the penalties more severe, but also school buses and drop-offs safer.
“It’s going to be an omnibus type bill,” he said. “Some of the ideas are higher fines, revoked licenses and maybe even a felony component any time a child is injured during the violation of the statute. This is the time to put a bill into effect that is truly comprehensive.”
Local News
Tragedy could inspire legislation
McDaniel plans to resubmit bill regarding school bus stops
- Local News
-
-
Parents outraged
“It’s a sad day in East Jasper.” Those were the words of several parents who came out to the Heidelberg Multipurpose Complex Wednesday evening.
-
Jones Co. native killed in Jackson accident
A Jones County native will be laid to rest this weekend after a fatal crash in Rankin County.
-
Ellisville earns state-wide award
The City of Ellisville has yet another award under its belt.
-
New No. 5 fire station ready
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be conducted today for the City of Laurel’s newest fire station.
Nearly 70 years after the construction of it’s original building, the City of Laurel’s Fire Station No. 5 has a new home. -
Annual ‘Gift of Sight Day’ being offered
About nine people will receive free eye procedures as the Southern Eye Center in Hattiesburg observes its annual “Gift of Sight Day.”
-
Students participate in Arbor Day event
Local residents celebrated Arbor Day for the planting of trees at several local schools.
-
Arbor Day set for Feb. 10
The City of Laurel is recognizing Arbor Day and Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack has proclaimed Friday, Feb. 10th, as Arbor Day in the City of Laurel.
-
JCJC’s student health fair focusing on prevention
Jones County Junior College students recently had the opportunity to discover the true meaning of Benjamin Franklin’s motto, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” at the college’s Student Health Fair. Hundreds of students took advantage of the opportunity to learn about a wide range of topics including behavioral problems, nutrition, fitness, and foot care.
-
Aspiring to greatness
The Rev. Leander Bridges was the keynote speaker at Jones County Junior College’s Black History Program Tuesday.
-
Arrest made in bomb threat
A 19-year-old Jones County Junior College student was arrested Tuesday in connection with a bomb threat to a building on the school’s campus earlier in the day.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
