What Do I Do if I’m Charged with a School Bus Stop Arm Violation in Minnesota?
It can be so easy to miss. As we drive, we are watching for other cars, trucks, city buses, pedestrians, people standing on the street and more. However, what happens if you are driving behind a school bus in stop-and-go traffic and they come to a stop, display their flashing red lights and display their stop sign and you miss it and drive slowly around the bus and continue on your way? The answer is, you may have just committed a crime and not just a simple traffic violation like speeding or failing to stop at a stop light. If you are facing charges for failing to stop for a school bus stop arm, make sure you contact an experienced Minnesota criminal defense attorney.
“Remember, this is not simple traffic ticket. The police can arrest you for this and put you in jail.”
What is a School Bus Stop Arm Violation?
According to Minnesota, all drivers must stop 20 feet from any school bus that displays their stop sign and flashing red lights. In fact, you aren’t supposed to move at all until the bus drivers retracts the stop arm. In addition, you should not drive on the right side of a school bus, the bus’s passenger side, if their amber lights are flashing. The reason is this is supposed to indicate the bus is preparing to pull to the curb and stop.
Could I be Charged with a Crime?
Yes. In fact, it is important to understand this is not the equivalent of a traffic ticket or a speeding ticket. Depending upon the violation, you could be facing misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor charges. These could mean jail.
Misdemeanor Charges
Failing to stop and simply continuing to drive could result in a violation of these rules and you could face a misdemeanor charge. This could result in:
A criminal conviction;
Up to 90 days in jail;
Up to a $1000 fine.
Gross Misdemeanor Charges
If you are found to have violated these rule by failing to stop when you see the stop arm and attempt to pass on the right hand side, or if you attempt to drive past the bus when a child is outside of the bus, you could face gross misdemeanor charges. This could result in:
A Criminal conviction;
Up to 1 year in jail;
Up to a $3000 fine.
Under certain circumstances, you could also face a driver’s license suspension or revocation.
“In the past, law enforcement used to depend upon bus drivers to write down the car license place. Now, they have high tech cameras on many of the buses.”
Because of the potential danger to children, the State and various schools have installed high resolution cameras on many of their buses to detect movement of vehicles in this 20 foot enforced zone. Law enforcement can use this footage to identify and then prosecute individuals.
If you are facing charges for failing to stop for a school bus stop arm, it is important that you understand your rights, your exposure and what could happen. Contact an experienced Minnesota criminal defense attorney.
Jack Rice is a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist, a former CIA Officer and a former prosecutor. Jack is also the Founder of Jack Rice Defense, a boutique criminal defense firm based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Contact Jack Rice Defense for a free confidential consultation or call 651-447-7650 or 612-227-1339.