Passing a School Bus
Utah Code 41-6a-1302 — at least $1,000 and 10 hours of compensatory service the first time
A driver meeting or overtaking a school bus that is flashing amber lights slows down and may pass with due care at no more than the school zone speed. A driver meeting or overtaking one flashing red lights stops before reaching the bus and stays stopped until the red lights stop flashing.
Who handles this in Utah: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Utah directory.
- A driver going the opposite direction need not stop on a divided highway, on a highway of five or more lanes, or where the bus is stopped at a signal or a place an officer is directing.
- The bus driver runs the red lights whenever children cross the highway to get off or on, or whenever passing the stopped bus would be hazardous.
| Offense | Minimum penalty |
|---|---|
| OffenseA first offense | Minimum penalty$1,000 and 10 hours of compensatory service |
| OffenseA second offense within five years | Minimum penalty$2,000 and 20 hours of compensatory service |
| OffenseA third or later offense within five years | Minimum penalty$3,000 and 40 hours of compensatory service |
Each of those is a class C misdemeanor, and the court may order compensatory service in place of any part of the fine if it puts its reasons on the record.
Sources for this section (1)
- Utah Code 41-6a-1302 — School bus -- Signs and light signals -- Flashing amber lights -- Flashing red lights -- Passing school bus -- Duty to stop -- Travel in opposite direction -- Penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Utah attorney.