Law Of The Month Failure To Stop For A School Bus

With the new school year fast approaching, we would like to take this opportunity to highlight responsibilities of drivers when a school bus is stopped picking up or dropping off children.  The Sheriff’s Office frequently receives reports from bus drivers who are passed illegally.  Deputies investigate the complaints and issue citations if appropriate. 

Failure to stop for school bus carries a fine of $326.50 and 4 points.

Wisconsin State Statute 346.48 (1) states:

346.48(1)The operator of a vehicle which approaches from the front or rear any school bus which has stopped on a street or highway when the bus is equipped according to s. 347.25 (2) and when it is displaying flashing red warning lights, shall stop the vehicle not less than 20 feet from the bus and shall remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the operator extinguishes the flashing red warning lights. The operator of any school bus which approaches from the front or rear any school bus which has stopped and is displaying flashing red warning lights shall display its flashing red lights while stopped. This subsection does not apply to operators of vehicles proceeding in the opposite direction on a divided highway.

Owners of vehicles which violate the above statute may also face fines if the actual driver is not located.  Owner’s liability for illegal pass of school bus carries a fine of $326.50 and 0 points.

Captain Trace Frost of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind all drivers to watch for school buses and to properly stop when required to do so.  Frost said, “The Sheriff’s Office takes illegal passing of school buses very seriously and will complete a thorough investigation and take enforcement action.  Please help keep our children safe.”