Changes To The School Bus Law and Driver Violations in Georgia 

Many drivers are not aware of the recent changes to the school bus law and driver violations in Georgia. Georgia law recently underwent a change that helps clarify fines and penalties in the case of school bus violations. Bear in mind that there is a distinction between what is colloquially known as a “camera violation” which may be a civil fine only, and a violation of the criminal statute, (i.e. a citation issued by an officer) which requires more than just a video to prove. What has recently changed is that the law requires traffic to stop in all directions regardless of whether there is a turn lane separating a roadway with four or more lanes. The only circumstance where drivers will not be required to stop is when they are traveling in the opposite direction with a physical median separation. As a misdemeanor traffic violation, that is a criminal citation, fines can run up to $1,000 and result in up to 6 points on the driving record. Check back on this as the legislature has a habit of changing this steep penalty. Bear in mind also that a driver with 15 points over a 24-month period will get their license suspended. So, taking this law seriously and fully understanding it is important in more ways than one, and you will want experienced counsel to help you navigate this area of the law.

With such substantial penalties, it is crucial to understand how the school bus law is enforced. Typically, school buses will have camera systems that record the sequence of events, depicting the deployment of the stop sign, the exact location of the vehicle at the time that the school bus stop sign and signal deploys, and showing the vehicle passing the school bus. One prosecutor in a local court tells us, “This may be the most serious offense that we see in Traffic Court.” In Court, the prosecution will have a copy of the actual video to show the Judge.

Often jurisdictions will send a letter with a link to the video so that you will have an opportunity to see the video before you get to Court as well. The high resolution of these videos allows identification of license plates from a significant distance. As such, these citations are difficult to fight and often a No Contest or a Nolo plea will be the only reduction that a Court will consider if the Defendant is eligible to enter that plea.

Below is a graphic prepared by the Georgia Department of Administrative Servicesshowing the new statutory scheme for school bus violations:

If you are accused of violating the school bus law in Georgia, it is wise to have an experienced traffic ticket defense attorney by your side. Ensuring that your rights as a driver are not impeded upon and that your penalty is not overly severe is important. The trial lawyers at York Gaskillin Duluth have in-depth knowledge of Georgia’s traffic laws and can defend you vehemently in court. Call us or send us a message to discuss your case.