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Not stopping for school bus could cost you $600+

San Lorenzo Valley Schools are back in session so there are going to be more kids on the roads walking to and from the bus stop. Our roads are too narrow in a lot of cases for even two cars to pass each other, add a child walking on the side of the road and it could be a recipe for disaster.  Please slow down a bit, specially between the hours of 6am until 8am and 2pm until 4pm, Monday through Friday.

 

Another big concern is motorists passing school buses when the red lights are flashing. This is illegal on EVERY street in Lompico, Zayante and Felton (except for Mount Hermon Rd.), no matter which way you are traveling and even if the bus has pulled off the road.
   

 

When the lights are flashing you MUST treat it like a red light.

You STOP, and stay stopped, until the lights are turned off.

 

Councidently Mr. Roadshow (San Jose Mercury News) published a piece about this issue today:

 

Q Can you remind motorists what they should do when they see a school bus stopped? I've come so close to being hit from behind when trying to stop when I see a bus with its lights flashing and stop signs extended.

Sue Van Stee
San Jose

A When on a street with one lane in each direction, all drivers must stop if the bus has its red lights flashing and stop signs extended. When on a road with more than one lane each way, all drivers traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Here are the exceptions:

  • When going the opposite direction on a divided road (one with an island) or with two sets of solid double yellow lines at least two feet apart, you can proceed.
  • Cars in the opposite direction do not need to stop on any road consisting of two or more lanes each way.
  • If you don't stop, it can be expensive. Really expensive.

Q I got a ticket for not stopping behind a school bus on Page Mill Road that had stopped and the fine was $636 — $675 if I go to traffic school. I'm 33 and this is my first ticket ever. I haven't even gotten a parking ticket. People have suggested I go see a judge, and he might lower my fine. I'm not going to claim I'm innocent, but I've been told that if I go to court, I cannot go to traffic school and keep this off my record. What is your advice?

K.S.
Los Altos

A First, call your insurance agent. If you have a good driving record — and you do — receiving one point on your record will usually not increase your insurance rates at most companies. Then call the clerk of the court and ask if you can appear before the judge and still go to traffic school. The rules vary from court to court. A judge may have some sympathy and be willing to lower the fine.

 

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  • By admin at 08/26/2009 - 12:21
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And details on the fines

Unlawful Passing of Schoolbus: Penalties

22454.5.  Notwithstanding Section 42001, a person convicted of a first violation of Section 22454 shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150) or more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250). A person convicted of a second separate violation of Section 22454 shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). If a person is convicted of a third or subsequent violation of Section 22454 and the offense occurred within three years of two or more separate violations of Section 22454, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall suspend the person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle for one year.

Amended Ch. 1296, Stats. 1990. Effective January 1, 1991.

 

Keep in mind this is just the base fine. There are other assessments tacked on by the court and local jurisdiction.

  • By admin at 01/26/2010 - 21:04
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For those that want to see the text of the law

 

Schoolbus: Meeting and Passing

22454.  (a) The driver of any vehicle, upon meeting or overtaking, from either direction, any schoolbus equipped with signs as required in this code, that is stopped for the purpose of loading or unloading any schoolchildren and displays a flashing red light signal and stop signal arm, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 25257, if equipped with a stop signal arm, visible from front or rear, shall bring the vehicle to a stop immediately before passing the schoolbus and shall not proceed past the schoolbus until the flashing red light signal and stop signal arm, if equipped with a stop signal arm, cease operation.

(b) (1) The driver of a vehicle upon a divided highway or multiple-lane highway need not stop upon meeting or passing a schoolbus that is upon the other roadway.

(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, a multiple-lane highway is any highway that has two or more lanes of travel in each direction.

(c) (1) If a vehicle was observed overtaking a schoolbus in violation of subdivision (a), and the driver of the schoolbus witnessed the violation, the driver may, within 24 hours, report the violation and furnish the vehicle license plate number and description and the time and place of the violation to the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction of the offense. That law enforcement agency shall issue a letter of warning prepared in accordance with paragraph (2) with respect to the alleged violation to the registered owner of the vehicle. The issuance of a warning letter under this paragraph shall not be entered on the driving record of the person to whom it is issued, but does not preclude the imposition of any other applicable penalty.

(2) The Attorney General shall prepare and furnish to every law enforcement agency in the state a form letter for purposes of paragraph (1), and the law enforcement agency may issue those letters in the exact form prepared by the Attorney General. The Attorney General may charge a fee to any law enforcement agency that requests a copy of the form letter to recover the costs of preparing and providing that copy.

(d) This section also applies to a roadway upon private property.

Amended Ch. 1296, Stats. 1990. Effective January 1, 1991.
Amended Ch. 624, Stats. 1992. Effective September 14, 1992.
Amended Ch. 589, Stats. 1993. Effective January 1, 1994.
Amended Sec. 3, Ch. 647, Stats. 1999. Effective October 10, 1999.
 

 

 

Schoolbus Warning Signal System

25257.  (a) Every schoolbus, when operated for the transportation of schoolchildren, shall be equipped with a flashing red light signal system.

(b) (1) Every schoolbus manufactured on or after September 1, 1992, shall also be equipped with a stop signal arm. Any schoolbus manufactured before September 1, 1992, may be equipped with a stop signal arm.

(2) Any schoolbus manufactured on or after July 1, 1993, shall also be equipped with an amber warning light system, in addition to the flashing red light signal system. Any schoolbus manufactured before July 1, 1993, may be equipped with an amber warning light system.

(3) On or before September 1, 1992, the department shall adopt regulations governing the specifications, installation, and use of stop signal arms, to comply with federal standards.

(4) A stop signal arm is a device that can be extended outward from the side of a schoolbus to provide a signal to other motorists not to pass the bus because it has stopped to load or unload passengers, that is manufactured pursuant to the specifications of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 131, issued on April 25, 1991.

Amended Ch. 624, Stats. 1992. Effective September 14, 1992.

  • By admin at 01/26/2010 - 20:25
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