Putting the brakes on bad driving

In the wake of a 9-year-old`s death, law makers and law enforcers are working on ways to make the public realize stopping for a school bus could save a life. The task force came together at the urging of Issac Brian`s parents Shari and Kelly. Issac was killed in September as he tried to get home. Tiffany Nix was approaching his bus from the opposite direction in her Jeep, missed seeing the bus and hit him. She and her lawyers don`t dispute that. But she`s now plead not guilty to the crime of manslaughter. Charges were upgraded to manslaughter from negligent homicide based on state crime lab tests that showed she had drugs in her system the day of the accident. The task force looking into bus safety is considering upping fines and adding bus monitors to route to watch for those violating the laws. They`re also looking at making the crime of passing a stopped school bus a felony. Right now, even if you kill a child while illegally passing a bus it`s a misdemeanor unless there`s an aggravating factor like drugs. Issac`s mother says that is just not enough punishment for someone who knowingly takes a life by choosing not to stop for a school bus. To e-mail ideas on how to toughen the laws on passing stopped school buses, e-mail Shane Broadway at sbroadway@arkleg.state.ar.us