When to Stop For a School Bus in Georgia

I saw it play out today. A school bus stops on a busy four-lane highway with no unpaved median or divider. Some drivers stop, some slow to a crawl and inch past, and some barrel through like “back-to-school” is someone else’s problem.

Two of those three drivers will have a $300 ticket in their future.

Georgia law is clear on this, though some drivers have trouble remembering when they’re on the road.

Drivers heading in both directions are expected to stop when they approach a school bus loading and unloading students.

When there is an unpaved median or barrier between the passing lanes, motorists are expected to pass with caution.

Law enforcement patrols heavily to enforce the law — particularly this week, as motorists readjust to sharing the road.

Cameras are installed in some busses to catch motorists ignoring the law. And school bus drivers are also responsible for logging vehicle info on law breakers and sharing that list with police twice a month.

The fine? The state charges $300 for a first offense, $750 for a second offense, and $1,000 for each subsequent offense in a 5-year period. Read the state code.