(COLUMBUS) - Ohio lawmakers are considering new penalties for drivers who fail to follow directions from school crossing guards.
House Bill 690 would make disobeying a crossing guard a first-degree misdemeanor. The proposal also creates penalties for harassing, intimidating, or interfering with guards while they are on duty.
The legislation follows a joint investigation by the Associated Press and Cox Media Group that found no nationwide system exists to track injuries or deaths among crossing guards, despite the job being considered one of the most dangerous.
Supporters point to cases like Becky Evans, a former southwest Ohio crossing guard who was struck by a vehicle in January 2025. She received serious injuries, while the driver was fined just $48.
Evans says she experienced frequent close calls and verbal abuse from drivers during her time on the job, adding that crossing guards are simply trying to keep children safe.
The bill does not change how incidents involving crossing guards are tracked but aims to increase accountability for drivers who put them at risk. Lawmakers are still reviewing the proposal.