Mission CISD officials spent part of the morning working with the Mission Police Department on a special awareness event involving school buses. The goal is to help remind area drivers of the rules around school buses as the school year approaches. Members of the news media and a police officer rode in a school bus as it made several practice stops. Nearby traffic officers would respond to those who chose to ignore the laws requiring drivers to yield the right-of-way to school buses. While warnings were issued during this drill, officers will be handing out tickets once the school year begins to those who choose to ignore student safety and the law.
The Texas Driver Handbook states: “You must yield the right-of-way to school buses. Always drive with care when you are near a school bus. If you approach a school bus from either direction and the bus is displaying alternately flashing red lights, you must stop. Do not pass the school bus until: 1. The school bus has resumed motion; 2. You are signaled by the driver to proceed; or 3. The red lights are no longer flashing. It is not necessary to stop when passing a school bus on a different road or when on a controlled-access highway where the bus is stopped in a loading zone and pedestrians aren’t permitted to cross.”
Basically, unless there is a center island between directions of travel, you must stop for a school bus when the red lights are flashing. A center turn lane does not constitute a center island.
Fines for a first conviction of this offense can result in a fine of $500-$1,250.