School Starts in Lake Elsinore Wednesday

School starts in Lake Elsinore on Wednesday. Kids will be excited, parents will be rushed, and buses will be running in every direction. Police are reminding parents to obey the law, and be extra careful in drop-off and pick-up zones.

And a good reminder for all drivers...a ticket involving a school bus could set you back as much as $695.

Here’s what the California Vehicle Code 22454(a) says:

Motorists must always stop when they are traveling behind a bus with flashing red lights. When vehicles are approaching a stopped bus with flashing lights from the opposite direction, drivers must stop if they are on a two lane roadway.

If motorist are on a multi-lane roadway (Divided by a raised median or a double yellow painted median) Motorists traveling the same direction must stop, while vehicles traveling in the opposite direction may continue, however, should slow and proceed with caution.

Not all buses are equipped with a stop sign arm that protrudes from the bus. The flashing red lights are regulatory and sufficient for requiring a vehicle to stop.

A school bus violation could result in a traffic citation costing over $695.