Passing a School Bus
Ala. Code § 32-5A-154 — a full stop for a school or church bus, and a felony on a fourth conviction
A driver meeting or overtaking, from either direction, a school bus stopped to take on or let off school children, or a church bus stopped to take on or let off passengers, comes to a complete stop before reaching it while its visual signal is on. The driver does not go on until the bus moves, its driver signals to go, or the signals go off.
Who handles this in Alabama: Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Alabama directory.
The other side of a divided highway. On a divided highway of four or more lanes with at least two going each way, a driver need not stop for a bus stopped on the opposite roadway, or in a loading zone where pedestrians are not permitted to cross.
| Conviction | Fine | And |
|---|---|---|
| ConvictionFirst | Fine$150 to $300 | AndNothing more |
| ConvictionSecond | Fine$300 to $500 | AndAt least 100 hours of community service and a 30 day suspension |
| ConvictionThird | Fine$500 to $1,000 | AndAt least 200 hours of community service and a 90 day suspension |
| ConvictionFourth or later | Fine$1,000 to $3,000 | AndA Class C felony, and the license revoked for one year |
When an officer or a school bus driver sees a violation and the driver's identity is not otherwise apparent, the person in whose name the vehicle is registered is inferred to have committed it.
Sources for this section (1)
- Ala. Code § 32-5A-154 — Overtaking and Passing School Bus or Church Bus; Penalties and Fines
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Alabama attorney.