Passing a School Bus
29-A M.R.S. § 2308 — stop from either direction for the red lights; a $250 minimum fine
A driver meeting or overtaking a school bus from either direction, stopped with its red lights flashing to take on or let off passengers, stops before reaching the bus. The driver waits until the bus moves again or its driver signals to go on. This applies on a way, in a parking area and on school property.
Who handles this in Maine: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Maine directory.
- A driver on a way divided by a curb or other physical barrier need not stop for a bus on the other side of it.
- Nor on a limited access highway, where pedestrians may not cross, with the bus stopped in a loading zone.
- A school bus driver may report a passing vehicle's plate, and the registered owner can be charged with a traffic infraction even when someone else was driving, unless one of the listed defenses applies.
Passing a stopped school bus is a Class E crime with a minimum fine of $250, and a mandatory 30 day license suspension for a second offense within 3 years of the first.
Sources for this section (1)
- 29-A M.R.S. § 2308 — Overtaking and passing school buses
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maine attorney.