COFFEE COUNTY: 11:20 AM This morning Coffee County Sheriff Deputies arrested a Coffee County resident from Elba for tresspassing on a school bus.
At around 11:20 AM, Jessica Dye Davis, age 32, was arrested for Trespass on a School Bus in the first degree. Davis has been booked into the Coffee County Jail under a $ 6,000.00 bond.
The allegations are on Friday the school bus picked up one child from the Davis residence but the second child was not ready. Shortly thereafter the child was ready and the allegations are Davis chased the school bus down and blocked the bus with her vehicle. The allegations are Davis attempted to open the door to the bus and was refused. The Coffee County School Resource Deputy either responded or investigated the incident. The SRO assigned obtained arrest warrants on Davis and she was arrested and booked into the Coffee County Jail this morning.
In Alabama, trespassing on a school bus is a Class A misdemeanor under the Charles “Chuck” Poland, Jr. Act (Alabama Code § 13A-7-4.2), punishable by a fine of up to $6,000 or up to one year in jail. You can be charged with this crime if you intentionally damage the bus, enter it without permission when the doors are open for loading/unloading, remain on the bus after being told to leave, or intentionally stop, delay, or impede the bus’s operation. However, children under 12 and authorized school personnel with a job-related reason for boarding are excluded from this law.
-
Damaging the bus:Intentionally demolishing, destroying, defacing, injuring, burning, or damaging any public school bus is a crime.
-
Unauthorized entry:Entering a school bus while the door is open to load or unload students without a lawful purpose.
-
Refusing to leave:Remaining as an occupant of a public school bus and refusing to leave when asked by the bus driver or an authorized school official.
-
Intentionally interfering with operation:Stopping, impeding, delaying, or detaining a public school bus being operated for school purposes with the intent to commit a crime.Penalties
- A Class A misdemeanor, which can result in a fine of up to $6,000.
- Imprisonment for up to one year in jail.
Purpose of the Law- The Charles “Chuck” Poland, Jr. Act was named in honor of a heroic bus driver who died protecting students. Poland lost his lief in Dale County Alabama when a man entered a school bus, gundown Poland and took a child into an underground bunker where he was held for six days. Sniper teams entered the underground bunker, eliminating the gunman and saving the child. The late Wally Olson was Dale County Sheriff when this took place at Midland City. The Alabama Legislature passed this legislation naming it after Mr. Poland who gave his life for the children.
- The law aims to enhance the safety of students and bus drivers by addressing the rise in unauthorized entries onto school buses.
Key TakeawayAlways have a lawful purpose for entering a school bus and never remain on the bus if asked to leave by an authorized person. If you are unsure about the rules, speak to the bus driver or school official from a safe distance, such as a window.Section 13A-7-4.2 CODE OF ALABAMA
Trespass on a School Bus in the First Degree.
(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Charles “Chuck” Poland, Jr., Act.
(b) A person commits the crime of trespass on a school bus in the first degree if he or she is found guilty of doing any of the following:
(1) Intentionally demolishing, destroying, defacing, injuring, burning, or damaging any public school bus.
(2) Entering a public school bus while the door is open to load or unload students without a lawful purpose, while at a railroad grade crossing, or after being forbidden from doing so by the authorized school bus driver in charge of the bus, or upon demand of a principal of a school to which the bus is assigned or other duly authorized school system official.
(3) As an occupant of a public school bus, refusing to leave the bus on demand of the authorized school bus driver in charge of the bus, or upon demand of a principal of a school to which the bus is assigned or other duly authorized school system official.
(4) Intentionally stopping, impeding, delaying, or detaining any public school bus being operated for public school purposes with the intent to commit a crime therein.
(c) The crime of trespass on a school bus in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor.
(d) Subdivisions (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b) do not apply to a child who is less than 12 years of age or to authorized school personnel who are boarding the school bus as a part of their job assignment.
(Act 2013-347, p. 1245, §§1, 2.)
