Driving Tests

Passing a Stopped School Bus in Connecticut: Fine and New Suspension Rule

informational·how to guide·Published October 7, 2026

When must you stop for a school bus in Connecticut, and what is the penalty?

Stop for any registered school bus that shows flashing red lights. Stop at least 10 feet from its front or rear, and stay stopped until the lights stop flashing. The fine is $450 for a first offense and $500 to $1,000, or up to 30 days in jail, or both, for each later offense. From October 1, 2026, a third or later offense brings a six-month license suspension.

Where the Connecticut school bus rules come from

The stop rule and the fines are in Connecticut General Statutes section 14-279. The new suspension is in Public Act 26-95, which the Governor approved on June 4, 2026. The Connecticut Driver's Manual (revised March 2023, Chapter 4), a Connecticut DMV news release for School Bus Safety Week (October 2025), the Office of Legislative Research summary of the 2026 transportation acts and section 14-111g (the retraining program) also support this guide. The law page for section 14-279 shows the text as of January 1, 2025, so Public Act 26-95 is the source for the suspension. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Connecticut DMV (portal.ct.gov/dmv) before you drive.

When you must stop for a school bus

Every driver must stop, including the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when a registered school bus shows flashing red lights.
The rule applies on a highway, a private road, a parking area and school property.
The Driver's Manual says to stop whether the bus is on your side of the road, on the opposite side, or at an intersection that you approach.
Do not move until the bus no longer shows flashing red lights. Then watch for children along the road and wait until they have left the roadway and it is safe.
Where two or more highways meet, do not turn toward a school bus that loads or unloads passengers.

How far to stop from the bus

How far to stop from the bus
Where you are	Minimum stop distance
You approach the bus from the front	10 feet from the front of the bus
You come up behind the bus or follow it	10 feet from the rear of the bus

Do you have to stop? Quick checks

The bus has flashing red lights and is on your side of the road

Stop at least 10 feet away and wait until the red lights stop. A free practice question covers an undivided road with traffic in both directions.

The bus is on the other side of a safety island or physical barrier on a highway with two or more lanes

You may go on without stopping. This free barrier practice question tests the exception.

A traffic officer directs you to move

Follow the officer's specific direction. The law makes an exception to the stop rule for it.

You drive an authorized emergency vehicle and the bus shows red lights

You must stop too. You may go on if you operate the vehicle under section 14-283.

Where children cross near a stopped school bus

The DMV tells families that children who must cross the street should walk to a place at least 10 feet (five giant steps) in front of the bus, make eye contact with the bus driver before they cross, and never walk behind the bus. Children also wait several feet away from the stop and often cross when they board or get off. So keep your eyes on the whole area around the bus, not only on the bus. About 500,000 students are transported each day in Connecticut.

Drive slowly where children walk to the bus

Drive slowly in neighborhoods and watch for children who walk in the street, especially where there are no sidewalks. The Driver's Manual lists the school bus stop among its right-of-way rules, next to the rules for crosswalks, four-way stops and rotaries. For those rules, see our guide to right of way at four-way stops and roundabouts.

Connecticut school bus fines

Connecticut school bus fines
Offense	Penalty under section 14-279 (U.S. dollars)
First offense	$450 fine
Each later offense	$500 to $1,000, or up to 30 days in jail, or both

Why you may see $475

A DMV news release of October 19, 2025 says the fine is $475. The law gives $450 for a first offense (a 2011 act replaced the old $100 to $500 range with $450). Check the amount on your summons or with the court.

The new six-month suspension from October 1, 2026

Public Act 26-95 changes section 14-111(b). From October 1, 2026, the DMV commissioner must suspend your license, or your privilege to drive in Connecticut, for six months for a third and any later violation of the school bus stop rule. The suspension comes without a hearing. It follows a conviction, a forfeited bond or a suspended judgment or sentence for the violation.

Retraining for repeat moving violations

A school bus violation is a moving violation under the retraining law, section 14-111g.
Age 24 or younger: the commissioner may require the retraining program after convictions for moving violations on two or more occasions.
Over age 24: the commissioner may require it after convictions on three or more occasions.
The program fee is not more than $85.
If you do not attend or finish the program, the commissioner may suspend your license until you complete it, after notice and a chance for a hearing.
After retraining, the record stays until you have 36 consecutive months with no new moving or suspension violation. Until then, each new conviction brings a suspension: 30 days, then 60 days, then 90 days for the third and later.

Key Takeaways

Stop for flashing red lights on a registered school bus, on any road, parking area or school property.
Stay at least 10 feet from the front or rear of the bus, and do not move until the lights stop.
The first fine is $450. Later offenses cost $500 to $1,000, or up to 30 days in jail, or both.
From October 1, 2026, a third or later offense means a six-month suspension without a hearing.
Practice school bus questions on the free Connecticut Class D practice test.

Connecticut school bus law: common questions

Do I have to stop for a school bus on the other side of the road in Connecticut?

Yes, unless a safety island or physical barrier separates the lanes on a highway with two or more lanes. On a road with no barrier, traffic in both directions stops for a bus with flashing red lights. You also stop for a bus at an intersection that you approach.

Do I have to stop for a school bus in a school parking lot in Connecticut?

Yes. The stop rule is not only for public roads. It also covers private roads, parking areas and school property whenever a registered school bus shows flashing red lights. Stop at least 10 feet from the bus and stay stopped until the red lights go off and the children are clear of the roadway.

Does the six-month suspension start with my first ticket?

No. The six-month suspension applies for a third and any later violation of the school bus stop rule, from October 1, 2026. A first offense carries the $450 fine. Each later offense carries $500 to $1,000, or up to 30 days in jail, or both.

Can a school bus driver report me for passing a stopped bus in Connecticut?

Yes. When a school bus driver makes a written report with the number plate, color and type of your vehicle, and the date, approximate time and location of the violation, a police officer must issue a written warning or a summons. The warning or summons goes to the owner of the vehicle.