Passing school bus on side children enter/exit
Florida Statute § 316.172(1)(b)
Summary verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: October 1, 2026.
Quick Summary
Passing a school bus on the side where children enter or exit while it displays a stop signal triggers the specific mandatory-hearing violation. Document the stop signal, the vehicle's path, and that it passed on the loading/unloading side; the general school-bus stopping duty also requires the bus to be stopped. Distinguish this from opposite-direction travel separated by a qualifying median or barrier. Identify any resulting injury because it changes consequences.
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
- $400 base plus $65 statutory addition (camera: minimum $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
- Yes — §318.19(3); camera procedures differ
- 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.