Driving Tests

Florida School Bus Law: When You Must Stop, Points and Required Course

informational·how to guide·Published April 25, 2026

When must you stop for a school bus in Florida?

In Florida, you must stop fully for a school bus that shows a stop signal, and stay stopped until the signal is withdrawn. Drivers in both directions stop, unless you travel the opposite way on a divided highway with a raised median, a physical barrier or an unpaved space of at least 5 feet. A violation adds 4 points and a fine of at least $200, plus $65.

Where the Florida school bus facts come from

The stop rules come from section 316.172 of the 2026 Florida Statutes. The fine amounts come from section 318.18. Points and suspension come from section 322.27, the driver improvement course from section 322.0261, and school bus cameras from section 316.173. Statements about drivers in both directions and about painted lines come from the Official Florida Driver License Handbook. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (flhsmv.gov) before you drive.

When you must stop for a school bus

The rule applies to every person who drives on a road or highway in Florida. When you come up to a school bus that shows a stop signal, stop your vehicle completely while the bus is stopped. Do not pass the bus until the signal is withdrawn.
A school bus must stop as far to the right of the street as possible and turn on its warning lights and stop signals before passengers get on or off. A driver who does not stop commits a moving violation.

Stopping in both directions on a two-way road

On a two-way street or highway, drivers moving in either direction must stop for the bus. The Florida driver handbook gives this rule, and it also says that you must always stop when you move in the same direction as the bus. Check yourself with the free practice question on a stopped school bus on a two-way road.

Divided highway exception: do you still stop?

The road is a divided highway with an unpaved space of at least 5 feet, a raised median or a physical barrier, and you travel in the opposite direction of the bus

You do not have to stop. Check yourself with the free practice question on opposing traffic on a divided highway.

The only thing between the lanes is a painted line or pavement marking

You must stop. The Florida handbook says that painted lines or pavement markings are not barriers.

You travel in the same direction as the bus

You must stop. The exception covers only drivers who travel in the opposite direction.

Passing on the side where children enter and exit

A driver who passes a school bus on the side where children enter and exit (the loading side), while the bus shows a stop signal, commits a separate moving violation. This offense brings a mandatory hearing, and its minimum fine is $400 instead of $200.

Florida school bus fines and points

Florida school bus fines and points
Violation	Fine under s. 318.18	Points
Failing to stop for a school bus	At least $200, plus $65	4
Passing on the side where children enter and exit	At least $400, plus $65	4
Either violation, with serious bodily injury or death	$1,500	6
Either violation, caught by a school bus camera	$200 for failing to stop and at least $200 for loading-side passing, with $25 added instead of $65	No points

Penalty when a person is seriously hurt or killed

If you fail to stop, or you pass on the loading side, and this causes serious bodily injury to or death of another person, the penalty is $1,500. You can make a payment plan with the clerk of court. The department also suspends your license for at least 1 year.

License suspension after a second violation or 12 points

A second or later offense within 5 years brings a license suspension. For failing to stop, the department suspends the license for at least 180 days and not more than 1 year. For passing on the loading side, the suspension is at least 360 days and not more than 2 years.
Points add up too. A driver who gets 12 points within 12 months can lose the license for up to 30 days. Drivers under 18 have their own rules: see how points work for teen drivers in Florida.

Required driver improvement course: what happens and when

1
Conviction, no contest plea or withheld adjudication
Each of these results for a school bus violation means that you must attend a department-approved driver improvement course to keep your driving privileges.
2
The department sends a notice
The notice arrives within 10 days after the department receives the court decision.
3
Finish the course within 90 days
The 90 days start when you receive the notice.
4
If you do not finish in time
The department cancels your license until you complete the course.

School bus cameras

A school district may put a camera system on a school bus to enforce the stop and loading-side rules. These buses carry rear signs with the words CAMERA ENFORCED. The notice of violation goes to the registered owner of the vehicle. The owner can review the recorded video and images, and can ask for an administrative hearing within 60 days after the notice is sent.

Key takeaways

Stop fully for a school bus that shows a stop signal, and do not pass until the signal is withdrawn. On a two-way road, drivers in both directions stop.
On a divided highway you need not stop only when you travel in the opposite direction and the road has an unpaved space of at least 5 feet, a raised median or a physical barrier.
Passing a stopped school bus adds 4 points, or 6 with serious injury or death. A camera case adds no points.
The fine is at least $200 (at least $400 on the loading side) plus $65, and the law requires a driver improvement course.
Next step: practice on the free Florida Class E Knowledge practice test.

Florida school bus law: common questions

Do I have to stop for a school bus on a road with a center turn lane?

Yes, if you travel in the opposite direction and nothing but pavement separates you from the bus. The exception covers only a divided highway with a raised median, a physical barrier or an unpaved space of at least 5 feet. A center turn lane is paved, and the Florida handbook says that painted lines and pavement markings are not barriers.

How many points do I get for passing a stopped school bus in Florida?

You get 4 points on your driving record. You get 6 points if the violation causes serious bodily injury to or death of another person. A violation that only a school bus camera records adds no points.

What is the fine for passing a school bus in Florida?

The minimum is $200 for failing to stop and $400 for passing on the side where children enter and exit. The court adds $65 to either amount. If the violation causes serious bodily injury or death, the penalty is $1,500. A camera case costs $200 (at least $200 on the loading side), with $25 added instead of $65.

Can I lose my license for passing a school bus in Florida?

Yes. A second offense within 5 years brings a suspension of 180 days to 1 year for failing to stop, or 360 days to 2 years for passing on the loading side. A violation that causes serious bodily injury or death brings a suspension of at least 1 year. Reaching 12 points within 12 months can bring up to 30 days.

Will a school bus camera ticket raise my car insurance?

No. Florida law says that a violation recorded by a school bus camera may not be used to set motor vehicle insurance rates, and it adds no points. The registered owner still gets a notice of violation, and can pay the penalty or ask for a hearing.

Do I have to take a course after a school bus ticket?

Yes. After a conviction or a no contest plea, the department requires a department-approved driver improvement course. You must also take it when the court withholds adjudication. The department sends a notice, and you have 90 days to finish the course, or the department cancels your license until you do.