3.__School Zone Safety Fund.__There is established the School Zone Safety Fund, a nonlapsing, interest-bearing account referred to in this section as "the__fund," administered by the Commissioner of Transportation.__The fund receives money deposited by the Treasurer of State pursuant to subsection 1.__ All money deposited in the fund and the earnings on that money remain in the fund and may be used on projects to improve school zone safety, pupil transportation safety and student safety in school bus loading and unloading areas and to promote safe routes to school and for the necessary administrative and personnel costs associated with the management of fund.

SUMMARY

This bill adds hand signals and hand-held traffic control devices used by school crossing guards to the motor vehicle laws governing traffic control devices. This bill also doubles the fines of various traffic violations if the violations are committed in a school zone or within 100 feet of a school bus with activated flashing lights, with half of the fine going into the School Zone Safety Fund, established to promote school zone safety and fund school zone safety projects. This bill gives school crossing guards and other persons authorized to direct traffic the authority to report violations in a school zone or within 100 feet of a school bus with activated flashing lights. It imposes the same liability on owners of vehicles that are reported to have committed a violation in a school zone or within 100 feet of a school bus with activated flashing lights as on owners of vehicles reported to have illegally passed a school bus.