District Sued Over Bus Safety
Citing numerous safety warnings from the California Highway Patrol, the Amador County district attorney filed a lawsuit Thursday to force the local school district to improve its bus fleet.
Faced with civil and potential criminal charges after unsatisfactory maintenance inspections dating back at least five years, Amador County Unified School District officials halted service by the fleet of more than 30 buses last month.
The move has forced more than 2,000 students to find other ways to get around in this sprawling county east of Sacramento, which has little public transportation.
Amador County Dist. Atty. Todd Riebe filed the lawsuit Thursday in Amador County Superior Court.
“A public nuisance abatement suit can be brought when the public is inconvenienced or when their safety is placed in jeopardy. We think we can prove both,” Riebe said. “We’re hoping the district will agree to our terms rather than taking the case to court.”
The suit outlines steps the district will need to take to improve its transportation system, Riebe said, adding that officials could face monetary sanctions or potential criminal charges for failing to do so.
District officials did not return calls seeking comment.
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