Improper Passing School Bus Lawyer Trenton

Improperly passing a school bus is a major traffic offense in New Jersey, and it’s an offense with one of the harshest penalties in relation to traffic cases. Under the state’s driving code, you will be subject to five points, an addition of the offense to your driving record, increased insurance rates, and maximum fines.

School buses have a very important job: to safely transport children. Given the mission, New Jersey imposes strict ramifications on those who pass a school bus while they are in the transition of picking up or dropping off kids. Improperly passing a school bus ticket is one of the most severe traffic citations that an individual can receive in New Jersey. Police officers in NJ have a zero-tolerance for drivers who illegally pass a school bus, as violations of this law inevitably place children at risk for serious personal injury. Consequently, costly fines, community service, points on your license, and even possible jail time can result.

What Is Passing a School Bus in New Jersey?

The law in New Jersey states is that there are specific things you must do when you see a school bus with warning lights on. Specifically, a driver must stop 25 feet away from the bus, while the warning lights and stop sign arm are out, and stay stopped until all children are clear of the road. If a driver does not follow these rules, a police officer can stop the driver and issue a citation.

Furthermore, the law states that drivers must proceed under 10 mph once the school bus’ warning lights and stop sign arm when the bus begins moving again.

There is an exception to this rule if a median exists between you and the school bus and you are traveling in the opposite direction. In this case, you are allowed to proceed, but may only do so at 10 miles per hour.

Should I Get an Attorney to Fight This Charge?

The short answer is yes, because of the consequences you will face if you either plead or are found guilty. An attorney will help to mitigate these consequences, or even beat the case outright.

There are defenses which can work in many instances. For instance, if the arm of the school bus stop was not fully extended, you may not be liable for the offense. Each circumstance is different, and therefore each requires a different approach, but an experienced New Jersey Traffic Attorney will be able to craft a defense based on the individual facts of your case.

Trenton Improper Passing School Bus Lawyer

Call the New Jersey Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. for a free consultation today. We can help you to avoid points, License Suspensions, and some of the more onerous consequences of passing a school bus in New Jersey.

This content was written on behalf of Greg Prosmushkin.