Right from time, state laws frown upon passenger vehicles from passing a school bus when it comes to a stop, to ensure students cross the road with no fear of being knocked down by an oncoming vehicle. So, how long does it take to get a ticket for passing a school bus?
It takes between 15 to 30 days to get a ticket in the mail for passing a school bus depending on how long it took the police officer to process the ticket and how long it took the ticket to arrive at your address.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Ticket for Passing a School Bus?
It can take between 15 to 30 days to get a ticket for passing a school bus. The ticket will be processed and sent to your mail.
The essence of making a law around passing a school bus is to ensure the safety of students when alighting from the school bus or crossing over to the other side of the road.
The intention is to ensure students are safe from any sudden threat to life and well-being. It then becomes a crime if you drive past a school bus.
As easy as this might sound, the consequences are severe and it can cost you some funds to exonerate yourself. The DMV has recorded a higher passenger of student casualties because of crossing the road after alighting from the school bus.
Factors that Determine How Long it Takes to Get a Ticket for Passing a School Bus
Factors that determine how long it takes to get a ticket for passing a school bus are:
1. How Long it Took the Bus Driver to Report the Violation
Bus drivers are mandated by law to report any offender who passed a school bus when they are not supposed to within 48 hours of the violation occurring. The time frame may however differ depending on your state of residence.
Therefore, the earlier the school bus driver reports the incident the earlier the ticket is processed and sent to your email.
2. How Long it Took the Ticket to be Processed
The number of days it took the processing agency to process the ticket and send it to mail determines how fast it arrived.
If it took the processing agency 4 days to get the ticket ready, 4 days is already deducted from the date the violation occurred. Therefore, the earlier, the better.
3. How Long it Took the Mail to Arrive Your Address
When the processing agency is done processing the ticket, the mail will be sent to your address. The time it takes for the mail to arrive at your address determines how fast you get a ticket for passing the bus.
If it took 5 days before it arrived in your mail, another 5 days is deducted from the day the violation occurred. If you add it up with the number of days it took for the ticket to be processed, you will see it is not something you can get in your mail the next day.
If peradventure you moved to another address after the incident occurred and is yet to update your address on your drivers license and registration, the mail would be sent to your formal address which will delay the number of days it takes to get to you.
What to Do After Getting a Ticket for Passing a School Bus
Here are what to do after getting a ticket in the mail for passing a school bus:
- Seek Legal Advice: You can seek legal advice after getting a ticket for passing a school bus and have the lawyer explain things you need to know. This is if you wish to fight the ticket.
- Fight the Ticket: Fighting a ticket for passing a stopped school bus may be easy, but getting the ticket dismissed may be hard except on certain occasions. You can fight the ticket if you have reason to do so.
- Pay the Fine: You can just accept the punishment and pay the fines.
Cons of Getting a Ticket for Passing a School Bus?
There are many stiff reasons that can frustrate you if you get caught committing this traffic offense, they are:
1. Severe Fines
Most times, you can’t escape paying a monetary fine to get yourself exonerated. Having this ticket in your mail can cost $250 as a first ticket, $275 in 18 months as the second ticket, and you also can’t escape $300 for every subsequent ticket you get for the 18-month time frame.
In case you think to escape from these fines, you also get extra fine luggage. If you make your payments late, call it “Late payment fees”.
These monetary fines are a burden especially when such a person earns below the minimum wage. It drains to pay fines and still pay debts.
2. A Stain in Your Driving Record
You need to have a clear and neat driving record away from crimes. Whenever you break a traffic law, you gain demerit driving records.
Having excessive driving records will cause you probation. If you want to have a good driving experience, you need to avoid breaking driving laws.
3. You May Get a Jail Sentence
Jail sentences are most times because of not being able to bail yourself out. Driving past a school bus can get you a 30, 90, or 180-day sentence.
There is no exact number, depending on the judge and how friendly the judge appears, but be sure driving past a school bus can get you some jail sentence, most especially on buses that have a camera, your car and the license plate will be taken to make the report.
4. License Suspension
Your driver’s license can be suspended if your vehicle drives past a school bus. During the time of suspension, you may be enrolled to take more lessons on driving instructions to be sure you won’t be committing more of those crimes.
Conclusion
Driving past a school bus is offensive and can get you ticketed in your mail. It can take between 15 to 30 days and even more to get the mail to your address. If the bus driver reports the violation, you will obviously get the ticket irrespective of how long it takes to get to you.