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connecticut’s LAWs and comparative
state penalties for illegally passing a school bus
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By: Heather
Poole, Legislative Analyst II
Carease M Gadson, Senior Legislative Secretary
issue
What are Connecticut’s laws
on passing stopped school buses and the penalties for doing so, and compare Connecticut’s
penalties to those in other states. This report has
been updated by OLR Report 2019-R-0198.
summary
State traffic laws generally are fully or
partially adopted in conformity with the National Committee on Uniform Traffic
Laws and Ordinances’ (NCUTLO) Uniform Vehicle Code, which was written and
recommended as a national standard for traffic laws. Section 11-705
requires a driver meeting or overtaking any school bus from either direction to
stop before reaching the school bus when the flashing red lights are actuated.
Drivers may proceed when the bus resumes moving or the lights are turned off.
Connecticut imposes a fine of $450 for a first
offense and a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both for
subsequent offenses. Penalties in other states vary greatly. All states
impose a fine for each offense, but fines range from $30 to up to $10,000. Several
states permit a license suspension or prison sentence for first violations and
most permit them for subsequent violations, but the suspension or sentence
length varies.
Connecticut
By law, except when otherwise directed by a
traffic officer, a motorist approaching a school bus displaying
its flashing red signal lights must immediately stop his or her vehicle at
least 10 feet from the front or rear of the bus and remain
stopped until the bus no longer displays its red signal
lights (CGS § 14-279).
At intersections, motorists are prohibited from turning toward a school bus
that is receiving or discharging passengers.
Under the law, police must issue a written
warning or a summons to the owner of a vehicle who illegally passes a school bus “upon a written report from any school bus operator…specifying the license plate number,
color and type of any vehicle observed by such operator or recorded by a camera
affixed to such school bus.” The driver's report must also
note the date, approximate time, and location of the violation.
Any person who violates this law faces a $450
fine for the first offense. For each subsequent offense, a violator faces a
fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both. The Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) also assesses four points against a motorist’s driver’s license
each time he or she is convicted of illegally passing a school bus. DMV suspends
a driver’s license after a person receives more than 10 points (Conn.
Agencies Reg., § 14-137a-5, et seq.).
OTHER STATES’ laws and PENALTIES
The National Association of State Directors of
Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) provides a “Stop
Law Narrative” on their website, which was compiled by School Training
Solutions in 2012. The report is a guide to state laws and was compiled from information
from each state’s DMV manual.
Penalties for illegally passing a school bus
vary greatly among states. For a first conviction, we found 17 states that
permit a prison sentence, nine states that permit a license suspension for up
to 30 days or more, and 10 states that permit a fine of up to $1,000 or more. Generally,
states that permit a prison sentence or license suspension may do so in
conjunction with a fine. See Tables 1, 2, and 3 for the specific states
permitting each penalty, listed in descending order by length or maximum amount
of the penalty.
Table 1: States Permitting a
Prison Sentence for a First Conviction and Sentence Length
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State
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Incarceration
Period
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Mississippi
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Up to one year
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Missouri
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Up to one year
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Louisiana
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Up to six months
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West
Virginia
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Up to six months
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Alaska
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Up to 90 days
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Arkansas
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Up to 90 days
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Colorado
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10 to 90 days
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New
Mexico
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Up to 90 days
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Delaware
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30 to 60 days
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Kentucky
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30 to 60 days
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Indiana
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Up to 60 days
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Iowa
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Up to 30 days
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New
York
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Up to 30 days
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South
Carolina
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Up to 30 days
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South
Dakota
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Up to 30 days
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Wyoming
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Up to 20 days
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New
Jersey
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Up to 15 days
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Table 2: States Permitting a License
Suspension for a First Conviction and Suspension Length
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State
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Suspension Period
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Arkansas
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21 days to one year
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Ohio
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Up to one year
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Oklahoma
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Up to one year
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Illinois
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90 days
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Missouri
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90 days
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Louisiana
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30 days
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New
Hampshire
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Up to 30 days
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Rhode
Island
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Up to 30 days
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West
Virginia
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30 days
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Table 3: States Permitting a Fine
of up to $1,000 or More for a First Conviction
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State
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Fine
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Indiana
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Up to $10,000
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Alaska
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Up to $2,000
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Oregon
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Up to $2,000
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Texas
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$500 to $1,250
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Arkansas
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$250 to $1,000
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Maryland
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Up to $1,000
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Minnesota
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$300 to $1,000
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Missouri
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Up to $1,000
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Tennessee
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$250 to $1,000
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Vermont
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Up to $1,000
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Table 4 below lists the laws in each state and identifies
the penalties we found for illegally passing a stopped school bus. In the
instance of a license suspension, the penalty applies to any privilege to
drive, including a driver’s permit, probationary license, commercial driver’s
license, or nonresident driving privilege.
The penalties listed in Table 4 are not
inclusive. A violation causing an injury to or death of a person is subject to
other criminal penalties. Additionally, administrative penalties in the form
of points may be assessed against the license of those who violate the law.
NASDPTS administered a 2013-2014
survey of state laws on passing a school bus (also known as “stop arm”
laws) which indicates the number of points states assess for illegally passing
a school bus. The survey found that (1) at least six states assess at least five
points, (2) at least four states assess four points, and (3) at least nine states
assess three or fewer points.
Table
4: State Laws and Penalties for Illegally Passing a School Bus
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State
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Statute(s)
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Penalties*
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Fine
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Other
applicable penalties
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Alabama
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Ala. Code 1975 §§ 32-5A-154 &
32-5A-8
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1st conviction: $150 to
$300
2nd conviction: $300 to
$500
3rd conviction: $500 to
$1,000
4th and subsequent
convictions: $1,000 to $3,000
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2nd conviction: 100 hours
community service and 30-day license suspension
3rd conviction: 200 hours
of community service and 90-day license suspension
4th and subsequent
convictions: Class C felony conviction and one-year license suspension
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Alaska
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AS §§ 28.35.145, 28.35.035 &
28.35.135
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Up to $2,000
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Up to 90 days in jail
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Arizona
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AZ ST § 28-857
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1st conviction: Not less
than $250
2nd conviction within three
years: $750
3rd and subsequent
convictions within three years: $1,000
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2nd conviction within three
years: Up to a six month driving suspension
3rd and subsequent
convictions within three years: Six months to one year license suspension
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Arkansas
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A.C.A §§ 27-51-1004 & 27-51-1001
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$250 to $1,000
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Up to 90 days in prison; up to 400
hours of community service; 21-day to one-year license suspension
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California
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CA VEH Code §§ 22454 & 22454.5
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1st conviction: $150 to
$250
2nd conviction: $500 to
$1,000
3rd conviction: None
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3rd conviction within three
years: One-year license suspension
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Colorado
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C.R.S. §§ 42-4-1903 &
42-4-1701(3)(a)(II)(A)
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1st conviction: $150 to
$300
2nd conviction: $300 to
$1,000
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1st conviction: 10 to 90
days in prison
2nd conviction: 10 days to one
year in prison
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Connecticut
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CGS § 14-279
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1st conviction: $450
2nd and subsequent
convictions: $500 to $1,000
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2nd and subsequent
convictions: Up to 30 days in prison
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Delaware
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21 Del.C. § 4166
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1st conviction: $115 to $230
2nd and subsequent convictions
within three years: $115 to $575
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1st conviction: 30 to 60 days
in prison
2nd and subsequent convictions
within three years: 60 days to six months in prison
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District of Columbia
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DCMR 18 § 2209
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$500
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Florida
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F.S.A. §§ 316.172 & 318.18(5)(a)
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Not less than $100
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2nd and subsequent convictions:
90- to 180-day license suspension
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Note: *Penalties current
through the 2015 regular session.
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State
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Statute(s)
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Penalties*
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Fine
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Other
applicable penalties
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Georgia
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Ga. Code Ann., § 40-6-163
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1st conviction: $300
2nd conviction: $750
3rd and subsequent
convictions within a five-year period: $1,000
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Hawaii
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HRS § 291C-95
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Up to $500
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Community service
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Idaho
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I.C. § 49-1422
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$100 to $500
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Illinois
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625 ILCS 5/11-1414
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1st conviction: $150
2nd and subsequent convictions:
$500
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1st conviction: Three month
license suspension
2nd and subsequent
convictions within five years: One year license suspension
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Indiana
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IC §§ 9-21-12-1, 9-21-12-9,
34-28-5-4 &
35-50-3-4
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Up to $10,000
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Up to 60 days in prison
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Iowa
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I.C.A. § 321.372
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1st conviction: $250 to
$675
2nd and subsequent
convictions: $315 to $1,875
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1st conviction: Up to 30
days in prison
2nd and subsequent convictions:
Up to one year in prison
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Kansas
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K.S.A. §§ 8-1556 & 8-2118
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$315
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Kentucky
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KRS §§ 189.370 & 189.990(5)
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1st conviction: $100 to
$200
2nd and subsequent
convictions within three years: $300 to $500
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1st conviction: 30 to 60
days in prison
2nd and subsequent
convictions within three years: 60 days to six months in prison
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Louisiana
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LSA-R.S. 32:80
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$100 to $500
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Up to six months in prison and:
1st conviction: 30-day
license suspension
2nd conviction: 60-day
license suspension
3rd conviction: One-year
license suspension
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Maine
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ME ST 29-A § 2308
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Not less than $250
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2nd and subsequent convictions within
three years: 30-day license suspension
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Maryland
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MD TRAN §§ 21-706 & 27-101(g)
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Up to $1,000
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Note: *Penalties current
through the 2015 regular session.
State
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Statute(s)
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Penalties*
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Fine
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Other
applicable penalties
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Massachusetts
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MA ST 90 § 14
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1st conviction: Not less than $250
2nd conviction: $500 to $1,000
3rd and subsequent convictions: $1,000
to $2,000
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2nd conviction: Six-month license
suspension
3rd and subsequent convictions:
One-year license suspension
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Michigan
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MI ST §§ 257.682 & 257.907
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$100 to $500, and costs of up to $100
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Up to 100 hours of community service
at a school
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Minnesota
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M.S.A §§ 169.444 & 609.02
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Misdemeanor: $300 to $1,000
Gross misdemeanor: Up to $3,000
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Misdemeanor: Up to 90 days in prison
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Mississippi
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Miss. Code Ann. § 63-3-615
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1st conviction: $350 to $750
2nd and subsequent
convictions within five years: $750 to $1,500
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1st conviction: Up to one
year in prison
2nd and subsequent
convictions within five years: Up to one year in prison and 90-day license
suspension
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Missouri
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MO St. §§ 304.050, 304.070, 558.011
& 560.016
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Up to $1,000
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1st conviction: Up to one
year in prison, 90-day license suspension
2nd and subsequent
convictions: Up to one year in prison, 120-day license suspension
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Montana
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MT Code Ann. § 61-8-351
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Up to $500
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Nebraska
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Neb.Rev.St. §§ 60-6,175 & 28-106
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$500
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Nevada
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NRS 484B.353
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1st conviction: $250 to
$500
2nd conviction within one
year: $250 to $500
3rd and subsequent convictions
within two years: Up to $1,000
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2nd conviction within one
year: Six-month license suspension
3rd and subsequent
convictions within two years: Up to one-year license suspension
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New Hampshire
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RSA § 265:54
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1st conviction: $500 plus penalty
assessment
2nd and subsequent convictions: $500
to $1,200 plus penalty assessment
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1st conviction: Up to 30-day license
suspension
2nd conviction: 30-day license
suspension
3rd and subsequent convictions: 30- to
120-day license suspension
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New Jersey
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NJ ST 39:4-128.1
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1st conviction: At least $100
2nd and subsequent convictions: At
least $250
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1st conviction: Up to 15
days in prison or community service for 15 days
2nd conviction: Up to 15
days in prison
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New Mexico
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N.M.S.A. 1978, §§ 66-7-347 &
66-8-7
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Up to $300
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Up to 90 days in prison
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Note: *Penalties current
through the 2015 regular session.
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State
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Statute(s)
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Penalties*
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Fine
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Other
applicable penalties
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New York
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NY VAT § 1174
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1st conviction:$250 to $400
2nd conviction within three years:
$600 to $750
3rd and subsequent convictions within
three years: $750 to $1,000
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1st conviction: Up to 30 days in
prison
2nd or subsequent convictions within
three years: Up to six months in prison
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North Carolina
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N.C.G.S.A. § 20-217
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Not less than $500
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2nd conviction: If within three years
of first conviction, one year license suspension
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North Dakota
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NDCC §§ 39-10-46 & 39-06.1-06
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$100
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Ohio
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R.C. §§ 4511.75 & 4510.02
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Up to $500
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Up to one-year license suspension
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Oklahoma
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Ok.St.Ann. §§ 47-11-705 &
47-6-205(F)
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$100
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Up to one-year license suspension
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Oregon
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ORS §§ 811.155 & 153.018
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Up to $2,000
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Pennsylvania
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75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3345
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$250
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Rhode Island
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G.L.R.I. 31-20-12
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1st conviction: Up to $300
2nd conviction: $300 to
$500
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1st conviction: Up to 30-day
license suspension
2nd conviction: One-year
license suspension
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South Carolina
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SC ST §§ 56-5-2770 & 56-5-2780
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1st conviction: At least $500
2nd and subsequent convictions: $2,000
to $5,000
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1st conviction: Up to 30 days in
prison
2nd and subsequent convictions: 30 to
60 days in prison
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South Dakota
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SDCL §§ 32-32-6 & 22-6-2
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Up to $500
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Up to 30 days in prison
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Tennessee
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T.C.A. 55-8-151
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$250 to $1,000
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Texas
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V.T.C.A., Transportation Code §
545.0666
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1st conviction: $500 to $1,250
2nd and subsequent convictions within
five years: $1,000 to $2,000
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2nd and subsequent convictions: Up to
a 6-month license suspension
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Utah
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U.C.A. 1953 § 41-6a-1302
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1st conviction: $100
2nd conviction within three years:
$200
3rd and subsequent conviction within
three years: $500
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Compensatory service in lieu of the
fine
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Vermont
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23 V.S.A. §§ 1075 & 2302
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Up to $1,000
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Note: *Penalties current
through the 2015 regular session.
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State
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Statute(s)
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Penalties*
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Fine
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Other
applicable penalties
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Virginia
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VA Code Ann. § 46.2-844
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$250
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Washington
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RCWA 46.61.370
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Up to $500
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West Virginia
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W.Va Code, § 17C-12-7
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1st conviction: $150 to $500
2nd conviction: $500
3rd and subsequent convictions: $500
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1st conviction: Up to six months in
jail, 30-day license suspension
2nd conviction: Up to six months in
jail, 90-day license suspension
3rd and subsequent convictions: 24 hours
to six months in jail, 180-day license suspension
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Wisconsin
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W.S.A §§ 346.48 & 346.49
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$30 to $300
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Wyoming
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W.S. 1977 §§ 31-5-507 & 31-5-1201
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1st conviction: Up to $200
2nd conviction within one year: Up to
$300
3rd and subsequent convictions within
one year: Up to $500
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1st conviction: Up to 20 days in
prison
2nd conviction within one year: Up to
30 days in prison
3rd and subsequent convictions within
one year: Up to six months in prison
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Note: *Penalties current through the 2015
regular session.