Vehicle owner liability for a vehicle's failure to stop as required for a school bus

Within 24 hours after the violation, the school bus operator may deliver this report to a traffic officer of the county or municipality in which the failure-to-stop violation occurred. Within 48 hours after receiving the report, the traffic officer may prepare a uniform traffic citation for the owner of the vehicle that failed to stop and may personally serve it on the owner. If with reasonable diligence the owner cannot be personally served, substitute service may be made by leaving a copy of the citation at the owner's usual place of abode with a family member at least 14 years of age.

If with reasonable diligence the owner cannot be personally served and substitute service cannot be accomplished, or if the owner lives outside of the jurisdiction of the law enforcement agency issuing the citation, service may be made by certified mail addressed to the owner's last-known address. Certain defenses may be asserted against owner liability for the failure-to-stop violation. The owner of a vehicle involved in a failure-to-stop violation may be required to forfeit not less than $30 nor more than $300, but is not subject to the suspension or revocation of his or her operating privilege or the assessment of any demerit points on his or her driving record.

Under this bill, the initial service of a citation for being the owner of a vehicle involved in a failure-to-stop violation may be made by personally serving the citation on the vehicle owner or by serving the citation by certified mail addressed to the owner's last-known address.