In a bid to shore up the safety of those tasked with protecting schoolchildren, State Representatives Tom Young and Andrea White of Ohio announced the Crossing Guard Protection Act. During a recent press conference, the lawmakers discussed the legislation's introduction, which is designed to bolster protections for school crossing guards. A report from the Ohio House of Representatives underscores a grim reality: In the past decade, over 225 crossing guards have been struck by vehicles while on duty.
This startling statistic, combined with the thousands of documented close calls and traffic violations, underlines the pressing need for change. House Bill 690 incorporates several measures, chiefly authorizing crossing guards to manage vehicular flow, imposing first-degree penalties for disobeying, harassing, or interfering with guards, and doubling fines for offenses committed within school zones during active hours.
"This legislation strengthens protections for students and the school crossing guards who keep them safe every day," Rep. Young told the Ohio House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Rep. White highlighted the risk these individuals face, emphasizing the need for “more education, awareness and accountability” to support both students and crossing guards.
Practical support for the bill comes from outside the legislative body, as well. Chip Protsman, the Chief of the Kettering Police Department, and Becky Evans, a crossing guard working for Franklin City Schools, also offered their voices during the conference. Evans shared her personal, painful testimony with the Ohio House of Representatives: “I was ridiculed right after I got hit for endangering my kids' lives, trying to get them across the street. And then when I got hit and the woman got a $48 fine. It's kind of like a slap in the face."
The legislature is now awaiting a committee assignment to further deliberate on the bill. Those interested in viewing the comprehensive discussion can watch the full press conference through the link provided by the Ohio House.
