Stop for School Buses!
Its that time of year again!
Every year I get calls from people that have been pulled over and given a citation for passing a stopped school bus. With that being said lets go over the law and some safety rules when you encounter a stopped school bus.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles here are the rules. https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/child-safety/school-bus-safety/ The first one is easy… if you are travelling behind a school bus and it stops to let off children, you have to stop! No questions!
If you are travelling on a two way street and a school bus stops, traffic has to stop in both directions!
If it is a divided highway and there is not a raised concrete barrier or at least five feet of unpaved median, traffic has to stop in both directions. If you do not have to stop going the opposite direction of the school bus you should at least slow down to watch for children.
No using wireless handheld device while driving in a designated school zone. Violators will get a non-criminal infraction and three points on their license.
As of now the penalty for not stopping for a school bus is $100. As of January 1, 2021 if you fail to stop for a school bus the penalty will be $200. If a second offense is committed within five years your license will be suspended for one year!
Penalties for passing stopped school bus include:
- Moving violation subject to citation;
- Requirement to complete a basic Driver Improvement Course upon conviction;
- Four points on your driver license; and
- Minimum fine of $165, if you pass on the side where children enter and exit, you will receive a minimum fine of $265.
Penalties for passing a stopped school bus that causes or results in the serious bodily injury or the death of another person include:
- Serving 120 community service hours in a trauma center or hospital;
- Participating in a victim’s impact panel session, or if such a panel does not exist, attending a FLHSMV approved driver improvement course;
- Six points on your driver license;
- Suspension of license for a minimum of one year; and
- $1,500 fine.
This is not legal advice and does not create an attorney client relationship and is for informational purposes only.
If you or a family member have been injured in a car, motorcycle, or pedestrian accident please give me a call anytime at (321) 926-8002.
