Passing a school bus in North Dakota: 6 points and $250

When do I have to stop for a school bus?

When the bus is stopped on the highway with its flashing red lights on or the stop sign on its control arm out. NDCC 39-10-46 applies to a driver "meeting or overtaking from either direction."

When can I go again?

When one of three things happens:

• The bus starts moving.
• The bus driver signals you to proceed.
• The red lights and stop arm are no longer in use.

What do the amber lights mean?

The bus is about to stop. The driver can turn them on 300 to 500 feet before the stop. Slow down and be ready.

Is there any time I don't have to stop?

Yes. On a highway with separate roadways, you don't have to stop for a bus on the other roadway. The same goes on a controlled-access highway when the bus is in a loading zone where pedestrians can't cross.

A painted center line or a turn lane is not a separate roadway.

What is the penalty?

Six points and a $250 fee under state law. For a driver under 18, six points cancels the license.

Can the vehicle's owner be cited?

Yes. NDCC 39-10-46.1 says a registered owner may not permit the vehicle to be used to pass a stopped school bus. If the vehicle is seen doing it, the law presumes the owner permitted it. The fee is also $250.

Can a course keep the points off?

No. The violation is worth 6 points, and the in-lieu election stops at 5.

What can I do afterward?

Take a defensive driving course and email the certificate to drs@nd.gov. That takes 3 points off, leaving 3, which clear in nine months without new points. How the course works.