Driving around school buses involves being extra careful because of the passengers inside the bus which are school children going to or coming from school.
Passing a school bus illegally is not only a dangerous act but also a serious violation of traffic laws that are in place to protect the safety of these school children.
Many drivers may wonder about the consequences of such actions and whether they will get a ticket in the mail for passing a school bus. Well, the answer is “yes”.
You will get a ticket in the mail for passing a school bus provided the school bus driver reported the incident to the appropriate authorities with evidence of the violation. A ticket will be processed and sent to your mail within 14 – 30 days.
Will I Get a Ticket in the Mail for Passing a School Bus?
Yes, you are getting a ticket in the mail for passing a school bus provided the school bus camera recorded the violation and the school bus driver reported the violation. Then, a ticket will be processed and sent to your mail.
Traffic laws vary from state to state, but there are common regulations across the United States concerning the proper behavior of drivers when encountering a school bus.
However, when a school bus is stopped and has its red lights flashing, all traffic from both directions must come to a complete stop.
This includes vehicles on multiple-lane roads, whether they are behind or approaching the bus. The only exception is when the road is divided by a physical barrier, such as a median or a concrete wall.
Therefore, if you are caught violating these rules and accidentally passing the school bus when you should not, a ticket will be processed and sent to your mail.
When Will I Not Get a Ticket in the Mail for Passing a School Bus
There are scenarios whereby you can successfully pass a school bus without getting a ticket. These scenarios are:
1. When the School bus Driver fails to Report the Incident
School bus drivers play an important role in ensuring the safety of children during their daily commute to and from school. One of their responsibilities is to report violations, such as vehicles passing the school bus illegally, to the appropriate authorities.
However, when a school bus driver fails to report such an incident to the appropriate authorities, a ticket will not be processed for the violation, which means, you will not be getting a ticket in the mail for passing the school bus.
The school bus driver has to report the incident for the ticket to be processed and sent to your mail.
This is why you see some people claiming to pass a school bus when they should not without getting a ticket. They just got lucky because maybe, the school bus driver failed to report the incident.
Be that as it may, the consequences of school bus drivers failing to report illegal passing incidents are numerous. Firstly, it jeopardizes the safety of students who rely on the school bus for transportation.
When the driver fails to report violations, reckless motorists may go unpunished, increasing the likelihood of future incidents and putting children at risk.
This not only compromises the physical safety of students but also undermines the trust parents place in the school transportation system.
Moreover, unreported violations hinder the enforcement of traffic laws designed to protect school children because authorities rely on accurate and timely information from school bus drivers to identify and penalize drivers who disobey the law.
Without this important input, the effectiveness of enforcement efforts is diminished, allowing repeat offenders to escape accountability.
2. When There’s No Evidence
Reporting an illegal passing of a school bus without evidence is challenging because the accused can counter the case in court claiming never to have passed any school bus illegally.
Since you don’t have any evidence to provide to the appropriate authorities who are responsible for preparing the ticket, they may find it difficult to send the ticket to the offender.
If the school bus camera got spoilt and failed to capture or record the incident while it happened. The bus driver will face challenges reporting the incident because the driver needs the date, time and location, the kind of vehicle, and of course, the plate number to report the incident.
The processing agents need these details to get the information they need to send the ticket to the right mail.
3. When the Ticket Was Issued to You on the Spot
If there is a police officer within the area where the incident happened and you were issued the ticket on the spot, you will no longer be receiving the ticket in your mail as it has been given to you already.
What To Do If You Get a Ticket for Passing a School Bus
If you’ve received a ticket for passing a school bus, here’s what to do:
- Read the Ticket Carefully: Make sure you understand exactly what you’re being cited for and any details provided on the ticket.
- Check Your Options: You have several options for how to respond to a traffic ticket, such as paying the fine, contesting the ticket in court, or seeking a reduction in the charges through a plea bargain.
- Consult an Attorney: If you’re considering contesting the ticket or if you’re unsure about your rights and options, you may want to consult with a traffic attorney. The lawyer can provide legal advice based on the circumstances of your case.
- Attend Court Hearings: If you decide to contest the ticket, be prepared to attend court hearings as required. Bring any evidence or witnesses that may help your case.
- Accept Responsibility: If you believe you’re guilty of the offense and don’t wish to contest the ticket, you can simply pay the fine. However, be aware that paying the fine may result in points on your driving record, which could lead to increased insurance rates or other consequences.
- Complete any Required Actions: Depending on the outcome of your case, you may be required to complete certain actions, such as attending traffic school or completing community service hours.
- Learn from the Experience: Regardless of the outcome, use this experience as an opportunity to learn and improve your driving habits. Passing a school bus illegally can endanger the lives of children, so it’s important to always be vigilant and obey traffic laws.
Conclusion
You will receive a ticket in the mail for passing a school bus illegally because it is hard for school bus drivers not to report such an incident. Passing a school bus illegally is a threat to school children therefore, school bus drivers treat the violation with caution.
