Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the excuses and rationalizing here are shocking. Basically people are saying that they can't be expected to stop for or see a bus because they are inattentive, distracted, the sun is in their eyes, they didn't know the rules, etc. Really?

Guess what? The moments you are inattentive, distracted, or can't see, are exactly the moments where you hit something or someone. Which is why these laws exist and which is why the privilege of having a driver's license assumes that you will be paying attention and able to see where you're going and what's around you, and that you know the rules of the road. Now, we all know reality is different and no one's perfect. But that's why when you fall down, you pay the ticket. Not continue to make a litany of excuses which just sound like case studies for bad driving.

The post with the excuse about the sun being in your eyes and not seeing the bus on Rockville Pike is beyond ridiculous. If you can't see where you're going and what's around you, why the heck are you continuing to press the accelerator? You didn't see the bus, what else might you not have seen? I've had plenty of moments of bad driving myself, but when it happens, I'm embarrassed and try to acknowledge that it's no one's fault but my own and that if something bad had happened, a litany of excuses and apologies would not have undone that thing or gotten me out of the consequences. Come on. If you're confused about the rules with a stopped bus, why wouldn't you just play it safe and stop?

I think we all agree you are supposed to stop, even OP. But to pretend most drivers are or should be paying attention to what is going on 4 lanes over, on the opposite side of the ride, in the far lane is dumb. You aren’t. 99 percent of the time when people are driving they are focused on what is directly in front of them and what is happening in the lanes directly on either side.

But drivers should be paying attention to what is happening four lanes over. That’s the law. If you can’t do this, then slow down and give yourself more time to take a look around and notice the big yellow school bus with the flashing lights, operating during morning school drop off and afternoon school dismissal times. Big. Yellow. Flashing lights.

Op here. It was actually a small yellow bus so there’s that

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the excuses and rationalizing here are shocking. Basically people are saying that they can't be expected to stop for or see a bus because they are inattentive, distracted, the sun is in their eyes, they didn't know the rules, etc. Really?

Guess what? The moments you are inattentive, distracted, or can't see, are exactly the moments where you hit something or someone. Which is why these laws exist and which is why the privilege of having a driver's license assumes that you will be paying attention and able to see where you're going and what's around you, and that you know the rules of the road. Now, we all know reality is different and no one's perfect. But that's why when you fall down, you pay the ticket. Not continue to make a litany of excuses which just sound like case studies for bad driving.

The post with the excuse about the sun being in your eyes and not seeing the bus on Rockville Pike is beyond ridiculous. If you can't see where you're going and what's around you, why the heck are you continuing to press the accelerator? You didn't see the bus, what else might you not have seen? I've had plenty of moments of bad driving myself, but when it happens, I'm embarrassed and try to acknowledge that it's no one's fault but my own and that if something bad had happened, a litany of excuses and apologies would not have undone that thing or gotten me out of the consequences. Come on. If you're confused about the rules with a stopped bus, why wouldn't you just play it safe and stop?

I think we all agree you are supposed to stop, even OP. But to pretend most drivers are or should be paying attention to what is going on 4 lanes over, on the opposite side of the ride, in the far lane is dumb. You aren’t. 99 percent of the time when people are driving they are focused on what is directly in front of them and what is happening in the lanes directly on either side.

But drivers should be paying attention to what is happening four lanes over. That’s the law. If you can’t do this, then slow down and give yourself more time to take a look around and notice the big yellow school bus with the flashing lights, operating during morning school drop off and afternoon school dismissal times. Big. Yellow. Flashing lights.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the excuses and rationalizing here are shocking. Basically people are saying that they can't be expected to stop for or see a bus because they are inattentive, distracted, the sun is in their eyes, they didn't know the rules, etc. Really?

Guess what? The moments you are inattentive, distracted, or can't see, are exactly the moments where you hit something or someone. Which is why these laws exist and which is why the privilege of having a driver's license assumes that you will be paying attention and able to see where you're going and what's around you, and that you know the rules of the road. Now, we all know reality is different and no one's perfect. But that's why when you fall down, you pay the ticket. Not continue to make a litany of excuses which just sound like case studies for bad driving.

The post with the excuse about the sun being in your eyes and not seeing the bus on Rockville Pike is beyond ridiculous. If you can't see where you're going and what's around you, why the heck are you continuing to press the accelerator? You didn't see the bus, what else might you not have seen? I've had plenty of moments of bad driving myself, but when it happens, I'm embarrassed and try to acknowledge that it's no one's fault but my own and that if something bad had happened, a litany of excuses and apologies would not have undone that thing or gotten me out of the consequences. Come on. If you're confused about the rules with a stopped bus, why wouldn't you just play it safe and stop?

I think we all agree you are supposed to stop, even OP. But to pretend most drivers are or should be paying attention to what is going on 4 lanes over, on the opposite side of the ride, in the far lane is dumb. You aren’t. 99 percent of the time when people are driving they are focused on what is directly in front of them and what is happening in the lanes directly on either side.

Anonymous wrote:Some of the excuses and rationalizing here are shocking. Basically people are saying that they can't be expected to stop for or see a bus because they are inattentive, distracted, the sun is in their eyes, they didn't know the rules, etc. Really?

Guess what? The moments you are inattentive, distracted, or can't see, are exactly the moments where you hit something or someone. Which is why these laws exist and which is why the privilege of having a driver's license assumes that you will be paying attention and able to see where you're going and what's around you, and that you know the rules of the road. Now, we all know reality is different and no one's perfect. But that's why when you fall down, you pay the ticket. Not continue to make a litany of excuses which just sound like case studies for bad driving.

The post with the excuse about the sun being in your eyes and not seeing the bus on Rockville Pike is beyond ridiculous. If you can't see where you're going and what's around you, why the heck are you continuing to press the accelerator? You didn't see the bus, what else might you not have seen? I've had plenty of moments of bad driving myself, but when it happens, I'm embarrassed and try to acknowledge that it's no one's fault but my own and that if something bad had happened, a litany of excuses and apologies would not have undone that thing or gotten me out of the consequences. Come on. If you're confused about the rules with a stopped bus, why wouldn't you just play it safe and stop?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The law on stopping for a school bus is crystal clear. IMO the penalty should be the same as DUI because you are selfishly endangering children and shouldn’t have a license.

Pay the fine and be grateful it’s so low.

Children aren’t getting dropped off across the street at the fire department. They were going to DAYCARE at 11:53 am in the morning. Most likely right after half day kindergarten. There should be some exceptions when they know children won’t be crossing the street.

There should not be any exceptions. Children, especially children that young, are unpredictable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to tell us what state you were in for anyone to share similar experiences as the state laws can differ.

BUT

Generally if there is no median between one side and the other you need to stop.

BULLSH!T!!!

I got a ticket in Montgomery County for “passing a school bus with flashing red lights” when I was on the other side of a large median that even had a CREEK running down the middle of it!
I mean an actual, flowing, creek! No footbridges, no sidewalks, nothing. I still got a ticket.


Total BS.

That’s hard to even imagine how a camera could have caught that and how a review didn’t pick up that this wasn’t actionable. Your story lacks credibility.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you see a school bus, you should be prepared to stop. Whether they need to change routes or move stops to quieter streets means nothing when the question is whether YOU should stop. Bus = foot off the gas and on the brake.

Go ahead and contest it, OP. But pls don’t waste everyone’s time pleading fatigue. That’s impaired driving. Or confusion about the lights. That’s lack of understanding of driving laws.

On second thought, just pay the fine and come here and complain about it more. It will be cheaper in the end.

And just wait till your baby is riding a bus and some idiot doesn’t stop.

Op here. I have an older child who rides the bus. Please don’t order me around. I hope one day something similar happens to you because you sound like a bi***

Then you should be even more concerned about your own lack of awareness of traffic laws and basic safety around a school bus. You sound like an idiot trying to defend your bad driving. Just pay your fine.

You sound like a know it all bi*** Pp.

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised because the other side (side I was on) only has a fire department and gas station. The kids were getting dropped off at a daycare (opposite side). The road is also fairly busy. Has anyone ever had the same thing happen to you? I always stop for the bus when I am on 2 lane roads. I’m thinking about going to the hearing.

Thank you

Anonymous wrote:The people piling on the OP are ridiculous. OP, go ahead and contest the ticket, see what happens.

Maybe you should know better, but I also know municipalities do all sort of crazy revenue schemes in the name of safety. I also know we should all be as safe as possible around school buses. See what the judge says.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to tell us what state you were in for anyone to share similar experiences as the state laws can differ.

BUT

Generally if there is no median between one side and the other you need to stop.

Op here. Thank you! I’m in PA. I was thinking to myself what do people do on highways?!?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to tell us what state you were in for anyone to share similar experiences as the state laws can differ.

BUT

Generally if there is no median between one side and the other you need to stop.

BULLSH!T!!!

I got a ticket in Montgomery County for “passing a school bus with flashing red lights” when I was on the other side of a large median that even had a CREEK running down the middle of it!
I mean an actual, flowing, creek! No footbridges, no sidewalks, nothing. I still got a ticket.


Total BS.

Anonymous wrote:You need to tell us what state you were in for anyone to share similar experiences as the state laws can differ.

BUT

Generally if there is no median between one side and the other you need to stop.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people piling on the OP are ridiculous. OP, go ahead and contest the ticket, see what happens.

Maybe you should know better, but I also know municipalities do all sort of crazy revenue schemes in the name of safety. I also know we should all be as safe as possible around school buses. See what the judge says.

Cars stopping at school buses isn't some kind of crazy revenue stream. You see the lights flashing you stop. It should be 100% automatic for every driver. Adding weird rules like "unless it's Kindergarten drop off" or "depending on what's on the other side of the street" or "unless you are confused by traffic lights" puts kids at risk. It needs to be perfectly simple. School bus lights = stop.

It's never so simple, though, and that's why people complain. On multi-lane roads in traffic, it can get really tricky to see the school bus on the opposite side, multiple lanes away, figure out if there's a median, and then come to a screeching halt because you're now right at the level of the bus and you've just decided you need to stop... only to be rear-ended by the guy behind you because he wasn't expecting you to stop.

Most people around me have received tickets for not stopping for school buses and it's always a case of highly-trafficked, multi-lane roads like this, or the intersection case a PP was mentioning - when there's a distinct risk of collision if you don't clear the bloody intersection! If it's a simple 2 lane road with a school bus, obviously everyone stops.

Op here. Omg thank you so much! I have a 3 month old and I am SO SO sleep deprived. My brain isn’t functioning properly. I don’t drive unless it’s absolutely necessary and I was headed back from preschool pickup.

I call BS on this. If this were true, you would just pay the fine and not be planning to go spend half a day in traffic court.

Op here. I don’t think it will take long. The township I live in is super small.

Anonymous wrote:School bus tickets are a popular scam because they can raise obscene funds while crying crocodile tears about "the children" instead of considering where is a safe place to stop and safe way to separate kids from traffic. They are pushed by profiteers as a moneymaker for the municipal.
Same as red light camera tickets on short yellow lights.