There are tons of ways to get traffic tickets – the Rules of the Road for Drivers is chock full of them. One of the top ways to get 
a ticket, especially now that school is back in session, is not stopping for the school bus.
When Do You Have to Stop for the School Bus?
Under ORS 811.155, a driver must stop for a school bus if:
- The driver approaches a bus;
- The bus has to be a school bus (that says “school bus” on it), a worker transport bus or a bus for a religious organization that’s transporting children. The Blitz Bus doesn’t count!
- The bus is stopped on a roadway;
- Roadway means ” the portion of a highway that is improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
- The bus is using flashing red “bus safety lights.”
- That’s the fancy way of saying a pair of alternately flashing red lights on the front and back of the bus.
When Do You Not Have to Stop for the School Bus?
You don’t have to stop for a school bus if:
- It is stopped on the shoulder of the highway – that’s not part of the roadway.
- The bus is on a separate roadway – like a highway where the two directions of travel are separated by a grassy median.
- Just having a center turn lane or paved median isn’t good enough – it has to be a completely different body of pavement.
- It’s doing anything other than flashing red lights.
What Should You Do if You get a School Bus Ticket?
First, at the side of the road, don’t discuss the matter with the police officer. Anything you say can (and will) be used against you in court. You probably won’t be able to talk your way out of the ticket.
Second, take note of where the bus was, where you were when the bus safety lights turned on and if there was anything that prevented you from seeing the lights or stopping in a safe manner.
Third, plead not guilty. A school bus ticket – more formally “Failing to Stop for Bus Safety Lights” – is a Class A traffic violation. The default fine is $435.00 but can range from $220.00 to $2000.00.
Finally, get some help with the case. This is the kind of ticket that police officers are reluctant to dismiss. As an experienced Oregon traffic attorney, I can help you build a defense and help you put your best foot forward in negotiating a good resolution to your case. Contact me for a consultation so we can get to work on your case.