An Act To Improve Safety and Traffic Efficiency near School Grounds
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2091-A is enacted to read:
§ 2091-A. School crossing guards
1. Qualifications. A school crossing guard is qualified to direct traffic if the school crossing guard:
A. Is 18 years of age or older;
B. Is under the control of a local law enforcement agency;
C. Has completed training approved by the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards in controlling traffic on a public way and as described by section 2091, subsection 2 to perform any traffic direction duties to which the school crossing guard is assigned as prescribed by the local law enforcement agency that has control over the school crossing guard;
D. Is wearing an appropriate uniform as specified by the local law enforcement agency that has control over the school crossing guard; and
E. Is directing traffic in an intersection with a marked crosswalk on a public way.
2. Obeying school crossing guards. An operator of a motor vehicle shall obey a hand signal or handheld traffic control device of a school crossing guard qualified under subsection 1. A violation of this subsection is a traffic infraction.
3. Assisting pedestrians. This section does not prohibit a school crossing guard who does not meet the specifications described in subsection 1 from assisting a pedestrian to cross a public way, as long as the school crossing guard does not attempt to do so by directing traffic.
4. Restrictions. A school crossing guard may not contradict or override a lighted traffic control device or pedestrian control device or cause a pedestrian or motor vehicle to violate the provisions of section 2057.
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 128th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.