The law mandates you as a driver to never pass a school bus with the stop sign out as doing so is a serious traffic violation, both in terms of legal consequences and the danger it poses to children. Therefore, what happens if you pass a school bus with the stop sign out?
What Happens If You Pass a School Bus With the Stop Sign Out?
Here’s the list of things that could happen when you pass a school bus with the stop sign out:
1. You Will Get a Ticket With Fines
The moment you pass a stopped school bus with its stop sign out, you’re breaking the law, hence, you will be receiving a ticket and the fines for the violation. The fines for this offense can be steep.
Depending on where you are, fines can range from $150 to over $1,000. Some areas may impose even higher fines for repeat offenders. These fines are designed to be punitive and to deter you from making such a reckless decision again.
2. It Will Add Points to Your Driving Record
In many states or regions, passing a school bus violation results in points being added to your driving record.
However, accumulating too many points can lead to more severe penalties, such as higher fines, mandatory driving courses, or even the suspension of your driver’s license.
The points system is a way to track driving behavior, and a violation like this one is considered very serious.
3. You May be Asked to Appear in Court
Depending on the severity of the offense, you might be required to appear in court. This usually happens if the violation leads to an accident or if it’s a repeated offense.
In court, a judge could impose additional penalties, such as community service, mandatory driving safety courses, or even jail time in extreme cases.
4. It Will Lead to Increased Premiums
Traffic violations are reported to your insurance company, and passing a school bus with its stop sign out is seen as a huge risk factor. As a result, your insurance premiums could increase substantially.
Insurance companies view this as reckless driving, and they may raise your rates to reflect the increased risk of insuring you. Over time, this could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in additional insurance costs.
5. You Risk of Injury or Death of a School Child
The stop sign on a school bus isn’t just a suggestion—it’s an important safety measure. When the stop sign is extended, it means children are either getting on or off the bus, and they may be crossing the road in front of or behind the bus.
Therefore, passing a bus during this time is incredibly dangerous. We all know how children are. They can be unpredictable, and if you pass the bus, you could hit a child who is crossing the street.
The consequences of such an action are devastating, not just legally, but morally. The injury or death of a child is a tragedy that no driver wants to be responsible for, and the psychological toll on a driver who causes such an accident can be enormous.
6. It Could Lead to Criminal Record
If your decision to pass a school bus leads to an accident where a child or another person is injured or killed, you could face criminal charges. These charges could range from reckless driving to vehicular manslaughter, depending on the circumstances.
Criminal charges come with the possibility of jail time, hefty fines, and a permanent mark on your criminal record; which can affect your ability to get a job, secure loans, and affect many other aspects of your life.
7. Suspension of Driving Privileges
If you repeatedly pass school buses illegally or if your violation results in an accident, the authorities may suspend or revoke your driver’s license.
However, losing your license can have a huge impact on your daily life, making it difficult to get to work, run errands, or fulfill other responsibilities.
In some cases, you might be eligible for a restricted license that allows you to drive only under certain conditions, but this is not guaranteed.
So, you need to learn how to drive around school buses to avoid getting a ticket for passing a stopped school bus.
In many places, passing a school bus on a two-lane road is prohibited in both directions when the bus is stopped with its stop sign out.
Even on multi-lane roads, passing is usually forbidden in the same direction as the stopped bus, though some jurisdictions may allow passing on the other side if it’s safe and no children are present. So, you need to know these to be able to know what to do when you approach a stopped school bus.
When a school bus has its stop sign extended and its red lights flashing, you should come to a complete stop, regardless of the direction you’re traveling.
Furthermore, you need to be vigilant in school zones and areas with high pedestrian traffic, especially during school start and end times to avoid mistakenly passing a school bus that is stopped.
Conclusion
Passing a school bus with its stop sign out is not just a minor traffic infraction—it’s a serious offense that carries heavy legal, financial, and moral consequences.
The laws requiring drivers to stop for school buses are in place to protect children, one of the most vulnerable groups on the road.
Therefore, respecting these laws is important for the safety of everyone involved. Even if you’re in a hurry, it’s never worth the risk to pass a stopped school bus. The outcomes of doing so can be life-altering, not just for you, but for others as well.
