AUGUSTA – Sen. John Nutting, D-Leeds, presented a bill to the Transportation Committee on Friday that would prohibit a person riding a bicycle from passing a stopped school bus that has its red lights flashing.

Nutting said he was prompted to clarify the law, which already pertains to motor vehicles, after an incident witnessed by a school bus driver from Leeds.

“While discharging two kindergarteners on a hill in Winthrop, the driver saw a bike traveling very fast that went between the children and their parents,” Nutting said during the public hearing.

The bus driver notified the Winthrop town office of the incident because he was concerned, even though the children were unharmed, Nutting said.

“Town officials consulted with attorney Lee Bragg of Bernstein Shurr, but were told the existing law is too vague for them to do anything,” he said. “So they contacted me to clarify the situation, so it’s crystal clear that when the red lights are flashing, I don’t care what you’re on, you’ve got to stop.”

The bill, which faced no opposition, would also apply to motorized bicycles, motorized tricycles and motorized scooters and is scheduled for a work session Thursday.

– Rebekah Metzler

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