HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — School buses are a common sight when students head back to the classroom and when their stop sign comes out, in almost every case, that means you must stop your vehicle.
Rosalind White, a police sergeant with Huntsville Police shares, "We want everyone to be mindful that traffic is going to be a lot heavier as schools and students start crossing the roadways and things of that nature and so also riding the bus. Alabama law requires everybody to stop for any school bus that stops on the roadway when their sign is extended and their flashing lights are activated."
She says there is one exception to this stopping rule, a raised median.
"The only exception applies if there's a four lane highway but there must be a divider that separates the opposing lanes in which you must not stop but if there is a two lane highway or anything of that nature you are required to stop for it and following the bus."
These medians can look like raised concrete, grass, or anything that fully divides opposing lanes.
If you decide to pass a stopped bus illegally, "you could be fined or face a suspended license with community service."
According to the Alabama Dept. of Education, some of the potential fines include:
- First Offense for illegally passing a stopped bus is $150 to $300 for first offense.
- Second offense could result in a fine of $300 to $500 and suspension of driver's license for 30 days and 100 hours of community service.
- Third offense could result in fine of up to $1,000, license suspension of 90 days and 200 hours of community service.
- Fourth offense is a felony, punishable by a fine of up to $3,000 and a one-year license suspension.
And ultimately, White says stopping is important because, "we have kids crossing the roadways …we want to ensure that they are safe going to and coming from schools. So allow yourself a little more leeway time when you're leaving out for work so we can ensure that students are crossing the road and are safe."
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