Notice: Chuck Poland Act

  • The Charles "Chuck" Poland Jr. Act, signed into law on May 31, 2013, classifies trespassing on a school bus as a Class "A" misdemeanor in Alabama. Named in honor of a heroic bus driver, Chuck Poland, who sacrificed his life to protect students, this law imposes penalties, including potential jail time, for unauthorized entry onto school buses and aims to enhance the safety of students and bus drivers by addressing the issue of trespassing on Alabama school buses.

    A person commits the crime of trespass on a school bus in the first degree if they are found guilty of any of the following:

    • Intentionally demolishing, destroying, defacing, injuring, burning, or damaging any public school bus.

    • Entering a public school bus while the door is open to load or unload students without lawful purpose while at a railroad grade crossing or after being forbidden from doing so by the bus driver in charge of the bus or an authorized school official.

    • As an occupant of a public school bus, refusing to leave the bus after the bus driver in charge of the bus or authorized school official demands that they do so.

    • Intentionally stopping, impeding, delaying, or detaining any school bus from being operated for public school purposes with the intent of committing a crime.

    Click here for the full law provided by alabamaachieves.org.