HB 1708 — An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in licensing of drivers, further providing for schedule of convictions and points; in rules of the road in general, further providing for meeting or overtaking school bus; in other required equipment, further providing for general requirements for other vehicles transporting school children; and making editorial changes.

PRINTER'S NO.   2100

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1708
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY CONKLIN, HILL-EVANS, GUZMAN, GUENST, SANCHEZ,
        RIVERA AND MERSKI, JULY 8, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JULY 8, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in licensing of drivers, further providing for
 3      schedule of convictions and points; in rules of the road in
 4      general, further providing for meeting or overtaking school
 5      bus; in other required equipment, further providing for
 6      general requirements for other vehicles transporting school
 7      children; and making editorial changes.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    Section 1535(a) of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
11   Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
12   § 1535.   Schedule of convictions and points.
13      (a)    General rule.--A point system for driver education and
14   control is hereby established which is related to other
15   provisions for use, suspension and revocation of the operating
16   privilege as specified under this title. Every driver licensed
17   in this Commonwealth who is convicted of any of the following
18   offenses shall be assessed points as of the date of violation in
19   accordance with the following schedule:
20      Section Number                  Offense                Points
 1        1512            Violation of restriction on
 2                        driver's license.                2
 3        1571            Violation concerning license.    3
 4        3102            Failure to obey policeman or
 5                        authorized person.               2
 6        3111.1          Obedience to traffic-control
 7                        devices warning of hazardous
 8                        conditions.                      2
 9        3112(a)(3)(i)   Failure to stop for a red
10    or (ii)             light.                           3
11        3114(a)(1)      Failure to stop for a flashing
12                        red light.                       3
13        3302            Failure to yield half of
14                        roadway to oncoming vehicle.     3
15        3303            Improper passing.                3
16        3304            Other improper passing.          3
17        3305            Other improper passing.          3
18        3306(a)(1)      Other improper passing.          4
19        3306(a)(2)      Other improper passing.          3
20        3306(a)(3)      Other improper passing.          3
21        3307            Other improper passing.          3
22        3310            Following too closely.           3
23        3321            Failure to yield to driver on
24                        the right at intersection.       3
25        3322            Failure to yield to oncoming
26                        driver when making left turn.    3
27        3323(b)         Failure to stop for stop sign.   3
28        3323(c)         Failure to yield at yield
29                        sign.                            3
30        3324            Failure to yield when entering

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 1                       or crossing roadway between
 2                       intersections.                   3
 3        3327(a) or     Duty of driver in emergency
 4    (a.1)              response area and in relation
 5                       to disabled vehicles.            2
 6        3332           Improper turning around.         3
 7        3341(a)        Failure to obey signal
 8                       indicating approach of train.    2
 9        3341(b)        Failure to comply with
10                       crossing gate or barrier.        4
11                          (and 30 days' suspension)
12        3342(b) or (e) Failure to stop at railroad
13                       crossings.                       4
14        3344           Failure to stop when entering
15                       from alley, driveway or
16                       building.                        3
17        3345(a) or     Failure to stop for school bus
18    (f.1)              with flashing red lights.        5
19                          (and 60 days' suspension)
20        3345(f.2)(1)   Failure to stop for school
21                       vehicle.                         5
22                          (and 60 days' suspension)
23        3361           Driving too fast for
24                       conditions.                      2
25        3362           Exceeding maximum speed.--Over
26                       Limit:
27                                  6-10         2
28                                  11-15        3
29                                  16-25        4
30                                  26-30        5

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 1                                      31-over     5
 2                                 (and departmental hearing
 3                                 and sanctions provided
 4                                 under section 1538(d))
 5             3365(b)         Exceeding special speed limit
 6                             in school zone.                     3
 7                                 (and 60 days' suspension
 8                                 for a second or subsequent
 9                                 offense)
10             3365(c)         Exceeding special speed limit
11                             for trucks on downgrades.           3
12             3542(a)         Failure to yield to pedestrian
13                             in crosswalk.                       2
14             3547            Failure to yield to pedestrian
15                             on sidewalk.                        3
16             3549(a)         Failure to yield to blind
17                             pedestrian.                         3
18             3702            Improper backing.                   3
19             3714(a)         Careless driving.                   3
20             3745            Leaving scene of accident
21                             involving property damage
22                             only.                               4
23      * * *
24      Section 2.       Section 1553(d)(11) of Title 75, amended October
25   16, 2024 (P.L.992, No.103), is amended to read:
26   § 1553.    Occupational limited license.
27      * * *
28      (d)    Unauthorized issuance.--The department shall prohibit
29   issuance of an occupational limited license to:
30             * * *

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 1             (11)    Any person whose operating privilege has been
 2      suspended or revoked as the result of a conviction of or as a
 3      result of a court order in conjunction with an adjudication
 4      of delinquency or the granting of a consent decree for any
 5      offense under the following provisions, unless the suspension
 6      or revocation has been fully served:
 7                    Section 3345(a) (relating to meeting or overtaking
 8             school bus or school vehicle).
 9                    Section 3367 (relating to racing on highways and
10             trafficways).
11                    Any violation of Ch. 37 Subch. B (relating to serious
12             traffic offenses) or C (relating to accidents and
13             accident reports).
14             * * *
15      Section 3.       Section 3101(b) of Title 75 is amended to read:
16   § 3101.    Application of part.
17      * * *
18      (b)    Serious traffic offenses.--The provisions of section
19   3345 (relating to meeting or overtaking school bus or school
20   vehicle), Subchapter B of Chapter 37 (relating to serious
21   traffic offenses) and Chapter 38 (relating to driving after
22   imbibing alcohol or utilizing drugs) shall apply upon highways
23   and trafficways throughout this Commonwealth.
24      Section 4.       Section 3345 heading, (g) and (j) of Title 75 are
25   amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
26   read:
27   § 3345.    Meeting or overtaking school bus or school vehicle.
28      * * *
29      (f.2)    School vehicles.--
30             (1)    At speeds of 35 miles per hour or less, the driver

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 1      of a school vehicle shall activate the school vehicle's
 2      hazard warning lights, otherwise known as four-way flashers,
 3      not less than 100 feet traveled before stopping. At speeds in
 4      excess of 35 miles per hour, the hazard warning lights shall
 5      be activated not less than 300 feet traveled before stopping.
 6            (2)   The driver of a vehicle traveling in the same
 7      direction as a school vehicle shall not pass or overtake the
 8      school vehicle:
 9                  (i)    While the school vehicle is stopped to pick up
10            or discharge school children.
11                  (ii)    Immediately preceding and following the school
12            vehicle's stop.
13                  (iii)    While the school vehicle has activated four-
14            way flashers.
15            (3)   Except as provided in subsection (g), the driver of
16      a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction as a school
17      vehicle shall proceed past the school vehicle using caution,
18      and whenever possible shall do so at a reduced speed.
19      (g)   Exceptions from stopping requirements.--The driver of a
20   vehicle upon a highway or trafficway with separate roadways need
21   not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus with actuated red
22   signal lights which is on a different roadway or a school
23   vehicle which is on a different roadway.
24      * * *
25      (j)   Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) [or],
26   (f.1) or (f.2) commits a summary offense and shall, upon
27   conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $250 and a $35
28   surcharge. The surcharge shall be deposited into the School Bus
29   Safety Grant Program Account.
30      Section 5.        Sections 3345.1(a.1)(1), 4552(b), 4553(a)(2) and

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 1   (c) and 6506(a)(3) of Title 75 are amended to read:
 2   § 3345.1.       Automated enforcement of failure to stop for school
 3                   bus with flashing red lights.
 4      * * *
 5      (a.1)    Violation and liability.--
 6             (1)    A motor vehicle meeting or overtaking a school bus
 7      stopped on a highway or trafficway when the red signal lights
 8      on the school bus are flashing and the side stop signal arms
 9      are activated as described in section 3345 (relating to
10      meeting or overtaking school bus or school vehicle) is a
11      violation of this section.
12             * * *
13   § 4552.    General requirements for school buses.
14      * * *
15      (b)    Visual signals.--In addition to the applicable lighting
16   requirements of Chapter 43 (relating to lighting equipment)
17   every school bus shall be equipped with a uniform front and rear
18   system of red and amber visual signals for the warning and
19   control of traffic during route operations as provided in
20   section 3345 (relating to meeting or overtaking school bus or
21   school vehicle) and in regulations of the department.
22      * * *
23   § 4553.    General requirements for other vehicles transporting
24                   school children.
25      (a)    Buses operated by urban mass transportation systems.--
26             * * *
27             (2)    Buses, other than school buses, operated by urban
28      mass transportation systems for the exclusive or nonexclusive
29      transportation of school children may, at the option of the
30      urban mass transportation system, be equipped with flashing

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 1      red and amber lights and may be identified by appropriate
 2      labeling as carrying school children. This equipment and
 3      identifying labels shall conform to those regulations which
 4      may be issued by the department under this paragraph.
 5      Notwithstanding any other provision of law, buses which are
 6      operated by urban mass transportation systems and which are
 7      equipped and identified in accordance with this paragraph,
 8      shall be considered school buses for purposes of section
 9      3345(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (j) (relating to
10      meeting or overtaking school bus or school vehicle). The
11      department may issue those regulations it deems appropriate
12      to implement this paragraph.
13      * * *
14      (c)    [Other vehicles.--A motor vehicle used to transport
15   children to or from school or in connection with school
16   activities, which is not a school bus because of its limited
17   seating capacity,] School vehicles.--A school vehicle shall
18   comply with regulations established by the department for such
19   vehicles. Unless required by Federal law or regulation, the
20   regulations established by the department shall not require
21   school vehicles which pick up and discharge school children only
22   at locations off the highway to be of any particular color or to
23   display flashing red and amber lights. The department shall
24   establish additional identification requirements for school
25   vehicles that pick up and discharge school children on a highway
26   or trafficway. These requirements shall, at a minimum, provide
27   for additional lighting and signage on the roof to be activated
28   when picking up or discharging students on a highway or
29   trafficway.
30   § 6506.    Surcharge.

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 1      (a)   Levy and imposition.--In addition to any fines, fees or
 2   penalties levied or imposed as provided by law, under this title
 3   or any other statute, a surcharge shall be levied for
 4   disposition in accordance with subsection (b) as follows:
 5            * * *
 6            (3)   Upon conviction for a violation of section 3345(a)
 7      (relating to meeting or overtaking school bus or school
 8      vehicle), a surcharge of $75.
 9            * * *
10      Section 6.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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