Failure to stop for school bus
Florida Statute § 316.172(1)(a)
Summary verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: October 1, 2026.
Quick Summary
A vehicle approaching a stopped school bus displaying a stop signal must stop fully and may not pass until the signal is withdrawn. Opposite-direction traffic is exempt only on a divided highway with an unpaved separation at least 5 feet wide, a raised median, or a physical barrier; painted lines alone do not qualify. Document bus status, displayed signal, travel direction, and divider. Passing on the child-entry/exit side has a separate mandatory-hearing track.
Summary sources
Classification, Points & Penalties
Classification, Points & Penalties
- Category
- School Bus
- Type
- Moving
- Civil / Criminal
- Civil
- Offense Classification
- Moving infraction
- Points
- 4; 6 if causing serious bodily injury/death; 0 for qualifying camera enforcement
- Fine / Penalty
- $200 base plus $65 statutory addition (camera: $200 plus $25); costs, injury and repeat-offense consequences may apply
Base fines are not the total payable amount. Costs, enforcement method, crash consequences, prior history, and court disposition can change penalties or points. A reported zero does not rule out license suspension or revocation.
Court & Enforcement
Court & Enforcement
- Mandatory Court
- No, generally
- NTA Eligible
- N/A — civil citation
- Custodial Arrest
- No — civil infraction (absent separate lawful basis)
NTA means notice to appear. Eligibility is conditional; these fields do not independently authorize arrest. Confirm the exact statutory track, lawful arrest authority, traffic procedure, and agency policy.
Arrest authority guideCivil infractions resulting in death or serious bodily injury require a hearing under §318.19.