Booker, Gottheimer reintroduce Miranda’s Law after deadly 2018 school bus crash on I-80 in Morris County
NEW JERSEY — U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Josh Gottheimer on Monday joined state and local leaders to reintroduce federal legislation aimed at strengthening school bus safety nationwide, renewing efforts tied to the deadly 2018 crash that claimed the life of a Paramus student.
The proposal, known as Miranda’s Law, is named for 10-year-old Miranda Vargas, who was killed May 17, 2018, when a Paramus East Brook Middle School bus made an illegal U-turn on Interstate 80 in Mount Olive Township. The crash also killed Jennifer Williamson, a Paramus teacher.
“Congress has the opportunity to act swiftly and decisively to protect our nation’s children,” Booker said. “We shouldn’t wait for another tragedy to strike––like the one that took the lives of ten year old Miranda Vargas and Jennifer Williamson, a beloved Paramus teacher, eight long years ago. Miranda’s Law would ensure the safety of our students every single time they step foot on a school bus, and I will do everything I can to make sure this simple, common-sense bill becomes law.”
Gottheimer said the legislation would help prevent similar tragedies by improving oversight of school bus drivers.
“Every parent should trust that when their child gets on a bus, they’ll come home safely,” Gottheimer said. “This legislation turns heartbreaking loss into action. There is nothing partisan or political about protecting our children. Working together across the aisle and across the country, we can make sure tragedies like the one here in Paramus never happen again.”
Miranda’s Law, formally known as the Miranda Vargas School Bus Driver Red Flag Act, would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide real-time, 24-hour notifications to school districts and bus companies when a school bus driver receives a driving infraction. The bill also directs the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to issue a final regulation implementing a national employer notification system that states could access.
Booker previously introduced the legislation during the 116th Congress, but it did not advance before the end of the session. Supporters say the measure would close gaps in communication that can allow unsafe drivers to continue operating school buses without timely notice to employers.
