As a driver, the last problem you want to have is getting a ticket for passing a stopped school bus with flashing lights and a stop sign out, you will not only be fined, but you may end up going to jail.
If you pass a school bus, the camera on the school bus will capture the incident. The school bus driver will however use the recording to report the incident to the appropriate authorities who will send a ticket to you via mail. But, does a school bus ticket go on your record?
Yes, it does. Depending on the laws of your state of residence, a school bus ticket will go on your record by adding 2 – 8 points to your driving records especially if it is a repeated offense.
Does a School Bus Ticket Go on Your Record?
Yes, a ticket for passing a school bus can go on your record especially when it is a repeated offense. The number of points the ticket will add to your record depends on your state of residence and what their law says about passing a school bus when you should not.
For example, in Kentucky, a school bus ticket will go on your record by adding 6 points against your driving record, but in Florida, 4 points will be added to your driving record when you repeatedly pass a school bus from the left-hand side.
It’s important to note that, in some states, passing a school bus for the first time will get you a point on your record while in some states, you may have to repeatedly violate the rule for it to go on your record.
From the example above, your first ticket for passing a school bus in Kentucky is enough to add 6 points to your record while in Florida, you will need to repeatedly pass a school bus from the left-hand side for it to add 4 points to your driving.
Moreover, the points for passing a school bus vary from one state to another, while it is 4 points in Kentucky and 6 in Florida, you will get 8 points in Indiana for passing a school bus.
Therefore, as a driver, avoid passing a school bus when its flashing lights and stop signs are out to avoid getting a ticket that will go on your record. This is because the more these points are accumulated, the more your chances of getting your driver’s license suspended are high. Without your driving license, you will not be able to legally drive.
How Many Points Can a School Bus Ticket Add to My Record?
The number of points you can add to your record for passing a school bus depends on your state of residence as they vary from each other. Therefore, we will consider these numbers in the various states in the U.S.
| State | Points on Your Record |
| California | You will also receive one (1) point on your California State driving record for passing a stopped school bus with flashing red signals. |
| Pennsylvania | 5 points will be added to your record for passing a school bus in Pennsylvania. |
| Maryland | 3 points will be added to your driving record in Maryland for passing a school bus. |
| Nebraska | In Nebraska, 3 points against your driving record for passing a stopped school bus with flashing lights and a stop sign out. |
| Michigan | 3 points will be added to your driving record for passing a school bus in Michigan. |
| Kentucky | 6 points on your first ticket. |
| New Jersey | 5 points will be added to your driving record for getting a school bus ticket for the second time (second offense). |
| Florida | In Florida, 4 points will be added to your driving record when you repeatedly pass a school bus from the left-hand side. |
| Alaska | 6 points against your driving record. |
| Wisconsin | 4 points will be added to your driving record. |
| Virginia | Passing a stopped school bus with a stop sign and flashing light is considered reckless driving in Virginia and will add 6 points to your record. |
| Georgia | A school bus ticket can add 6 points to your driving record. |
| North Dakota | 6 points to your driving record. |
| Connecticut | 4 points to your driving record. |
| Arizona | You will get 2 points on your driving record for passing a school bus in Arizona for the first time (first offense). |
| Colorado | 6 points will be added to your record for passing a school bus the second time (second offense). |
| New Hampshire | You will get 6 points on your driving record for repeatedly passing a school bus within 30 days of the first offense and 120 days for more repeated offenses. |
| Idaho | 4 points on your record. |
| New York | In New York, you will get 5 points on your driving record if you get a school bus ticket within 3 years of the previous offense. |
| Ohio | 2 points on your driving record. |
| North Carolina | You will get 5 points on your record for the second offense. |
| South Carolina | You will get 6 points on your driving records for a second offense |
| District of Columbia | 4 points on your record. |
| New Mexico | 6 points on your driving record. |
| Nevada | 4 points against your record for a second offense that happens within 2 years of the first offense. |
| Oklahoma | 4 points on your record. |
| Indiana | The point penalty for passing a stopped school bus with a flashing light in Indiana is 8 points on your driving record. |
| Tennessee | 8 points against your driving record for a school bus ticket in Tennessee. |
| Vermont | 4 points on your driving records. |
These are the points the ticket can add to your driving record. However, you can read the penalties for passing a school bus if you wish to know all the penalties you can get according to your state of residence. We have organized them according to each state in the U.S.
Conclusion
Answering the question “Does a school bus ticket go on your record” is easy and straightforward. The answer is yes, a school bus ticket will indeed go on your record by adding 2 – 8 points to your driving records. However, the points vary from one state to another. In some states, you may not receive a point until you repeat the offense within a specified period of time the previous offense was recorded.
