Passing A School Bus
Veh. & Traf. Law § 1174 — stop for the red signal, and fines that climb within three years
In New York, a driver on a public highway, street or private road meeting or overtaking from either direction a school bus stopped for passengers, or stopped behind another school bus that is, stops before reaching it while its red signal is on, and does not go on until the bus moves or its driver or a police officer signals to proceed. School parking lots and driveways count as public highways for this rule.
| The conviction | The fine | Jail, at most |
|---|---|---|
| The convictionA first | The fineTwo hundred fifty dollars to four hundred dollars | Jail, at mostThirty days |
| The convictionA second within three years | The fineSix hundred dollars to seven hundred fifty dollars | Jail, at mostOne hundred eighty days |
| The convictionA third or later within three years | The fineSeven hundred fifty dollars to one thousand five hundred dollars | Jail, at mostOne hundred eighty days |
A bus driver keeps the bus halted with its red lights flashing until passengers who cross have reached the other side, and until all passengers are at least fifteen feet from the bus and off the road or on a sidewalk.
Sources for this section (1)
- Veh. & Traf. Law § 1174 — Overtaking and passing school bus
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New York attorney.