School Bus stop arm ticket

[gymmamma4]

I received a ticket in the mail for $300 (ouch!) for passing a school bus. The ticket came with pictures and a link to a video. On the video, you can see that the bus comes to a stop as I am directly next to it. The bus did have flashing lights, but was still moving forward. Obviously no child is jumping out of a moving bus. It is illegal to pass a stopped bus with lights flashing, but what if it is turning its lights on while it is still moving forward? Do I have any chance to fight this ticket?

Also, the ticket was mailed to my husband, but I was actually the one driving. If he signs the affidavit that I was driving the car and not he, will they turn around and send the ticket to me?

 

[mightymoose]

Your answer depends on the wording of the vehicle code statute in your state. If red lights were flashing, even if the bus had not yet made a complete stop, you likely should not have passed. If yellow lights were flashing then you were probably ok. In either case if a stop sign was extended then you should not have passed.
Usually yellow lights flash until the bus stops and then the stop sign arm extends. If you feel like you were in a grey area you might choose to contest this. You might also research rulings about stoplight cameras in your state for an idea of how this could pay out in court.
Before acknowledging the citation it sending it back identifying you as the driver you might want to get some input from a local attorney familiar with traffic law. If the video does not clearly identify the driver it is possibly something in your favor.