Passing a School Bus
La. R.S. 32:80 — stop at least 30 feet from a school bus with its signals on, from either direction
Stop from either direction. A driver meeting or overtaking, from any direction, a school bus stopped to load or unload children with its signals on stops not less than 30 feet from it, and stays stopped until the bus moves or the signals go off.
| Result | Fine | Other |
|---|---|---|
| ResultNo one hurt | Fine$100 to $500 | OtherUp to 6 months, and a license suspension |
| ResultAn injury | Fine$200 to $500 | OtherUp to 6 months, a suspension of up to 90 days |
| ResultSerious bodily injury | Fine$500 to $1,000 | OtherUp to 6 months, a suspension of up to 180 days |
| ResultA death | Fine$1,000 to $5,000 | OtherUp to 12 months, and a suspension |
A driver on a highway with separate roadways need not stop for a bus on the other roadway, but a road with one lane each way and a shared center turn lane is not a divided highway. A bus driver may report a violation in writing, with the plate number, within 24 hours.
Sources for this section (1)
- La. R.S. 32:80 — Overtaking and passing certain school buses
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Louisiana attorney.