Sen. Gordon Celebrates Passage of New School Bus Safety Law with Education, Transportation, and Public Safety Leaders

Watch the Press Conference here

COVENTRY, CT – State Senator Jeff Gordon today hosted a press conference at the DATTCO Bus Yard in Coventry to celebrate the passage of legislation strengthening penalties for motorists who repeatedly fail to stop for school buses carrying children.

Joining Senator Gordon were Coventry Public Schools Superintendent David J. Petrone, DATTCO President Donald DeVivo, Coventry Police Chief Eric Peterson, and Coventry Board of Education Chairperson Jennifer Beausoleil.

The new law, An Act Concerning the Suspension of an Operator’s License for Repeatedly Failing to Stop for a School Bus, was introduced by Senator Gordon and passed unanimously during the 2026 legislative session. The measure adds repeated school bus stop-arm violations to the list of offenses that trigger mandatory driver’s license suspension by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.

“Every child deserves to get to and from school safely, and every parent deserves peace of mind knowing that motorists will obey the law when a school bus is stopped,” said Senator Jeff Gordon. “This legislation sends a clear message that repeatedly putting children at risk through reckless driving will have serious consequences. I am grateful to the educators, transportation professionals, law enforcement officers, and bipartisan colleagues who helped make this important safety measure a reality.”

Senator Gordon developed the legislation in response to growing concerns from parents, school bus drivers, educators, and law enforcement officials about the number of illegal school bus passings occurring on Connecticut roads.

“The safety of our students is our highest priority, and that responsibility extends beyond the classroom to every part of the school day, including transportation to and from school,” said Dr. David J. Petrone, Superintendent of Schools for Coventry Public Schools. “School bus drivers play a vital role in protecting our children, and they deserve to know that motorists will respect the laws designed to keep students safe. We are grateful to Senator Gordon for his leadership on this issue and for advancing legislation that strengthens accountability, enhances student safety, and helps give parents greater confidence that their children can travel to school safely each day.”

“At DATTCO, we safely transport thousands of Connecticut children to and from school every day, so we understand firsthand the importance of school bus safety,” said Donald DeVivo, President and CEO of DATTCO. “When motorists ignore a stopped school bus and its warning signals, they put children’s lives at risk. I strongly support this legislation because it increases accountability for repeat offenders and reinforces the importance of obeying school bus stop laws. Protecting students should never be a partisan issue. I commend Senator Jeff Gordon for introducing this important measure and for his commitment to improving safety for Connecticut’s children.”

Senator Gordon thanked school bus drivers, transportation personnel, educators, and law enforcement officials throughout Connecticut for their advocacy and commitment to student safety. He also thanked the chairs and ranking members of the Judiciary Committee for their partnership and collaboration in helping advance this important public safety measure to unanimous passage.