SC H4304

Vehicle owners and operators become jointly and severally liable to the Department of Education for unlawfully passing school buses, with civil penalties up to $100 for a first violation and up to $250 for subsequent violations within one year

Failure to pay penalties within 30 days can result in additional civil penalties up to $500 per violation, and unpaid judgments trigger suspension of the vehicle's registration until satisfied

School bus operators must report to the Department of Education within 24 hours when a vehicle fails to stop while amber signals are actuated, and must retrieve and store video evidence for enforcement

The Department of Motor Vehicles must suspend and deny registration or reregistration for vehicles with outstanding judgments for passing school buses, with a $50 reinstatement fee required after satisfying the judgment

Valid defenses include stolen vehicles, leased vehicles (with liability shifting to the lessee), and proof that the current owner was not the owner at the time of violation