Starting this fall, penalties will substantially increase for Arlington drivers who do not stop for school buses or who fail to provide proper safety restraints for young children.

Fines for those who don't stop for a school bus nearly doubled from $400 to almost $900. The penalty for those ticketed with driving with unrestrained children under the age of 8 and not taller than four feet nine inches tall also increased from $124 to $199.

Harsher penalties for not stopping for loading and unloading school buses are among several new statewide changes that were passed in the most recent legislative session. The new stiffer fines went into effect on September 1.

"Overall, these are very important new laws," said David Preciado, Arlington's Municipal Court Services Director. "These are a matter of improving the safety and quality of life of everyone."

Preciado said substantially increasing fines for failing to stop for school buses reminds drivers that they must stop-and stay stopped-if a school bus is loading or unloading children in front of them.

"If that (bus) arm goes out, it requires that both lanes of traffic stop," he said.

The new law also increases the penalty for a second conviction of that offense committed within the last five years. For Arlington drivers, that could mean a fine of $1,599.

Arlington fines also increased for those ticketed for traveling with unrestrained young children. According to the state transportation code, drivers can be fined if they transport a child younger than eight years of age-unless the child is taller than four feet, nine inches-without keeping the child secured in a child passenger safety seat system.

Preciado said it's important for families traveling with children to know about current laws and ways to keep their families safe in vehicles.He said the City has personnel that works with families on how to properly install car seats and safely transport children.

Some other current violations also were clarified or expanded and now carry heftier penalties. Drivers who talk on their cell phones around schools during reduced speed limit times still could be fined $200 unless they are using a hands free device or are stopped. The law now includes the property of a school for which a local authority has designated a school crossing zone.

A new provision expands on the state's current Move Over/Slow Down law, which requires drivers to yield to tow trucks, police, fire and emergency vehicles. Now Texas Department of Transportation vehicles with lights activated are included in that protected category. Arlington drivers who unlawfully pass a TxDOT vehicle could be fined $214.

New laws also crack down on large trucks that are overweight or have other safety violations. "These vehicles can do a lot of damage if they are not maintained or are overweight," Preciado said. The state set forth more than three dozen new offense codes and some fines in Arlington now can run in the thousands of dollars.