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Kentucky School Bus Law 2026: Stop Rules, Cameras and Higher Fines

informational·how to guide·Published August 28, 2026

When do you have to stop for a school bus in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, you must stop when a school or church bus that carries children is stopped on a highway with its stop arm and signal lights on. Drivers from every direction stop. Under the law in force since July 15, 2026, the only exception is traffic from the opposite direction on a highway of 4 or more lanes divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median.

Where the Kentucky school bus law facts come from

The stop rule comes from KRS 189.370, and the bus signal rules come from KRS 189.375. The July 15, 2026 changes, the stop-arm camera rules and the new fines come from 2026 Acts chapter 62 (House Bill 7), the HB 7 bill record and KRS 189.990. The points come from 601 KAR 13:025. The driver advice comes from the Kentucky Driver Manual, updated July 23, 2026. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (drive.ky.gov) and the Kentucky State Police before you drive.

What changed in Kentucky school bus law on July 15, 2026

House Bill 7 is chapter 62 of the 2026 Acts, an act on school bus safety. The Governor signed it on April 9, 2026, and the new text of KRS 189.370 took effect on July 15, 2026. For drivers, it makes three changes. Traffic from the opposite direction must now stop on a highway that is not divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median. The fines for failing to stop went up. And school districts may put stop-arm cameras on their buses to fine the vehicle owner.

Do you have to stop for the school bus? Four common cases

You come up behind the bus, and its stop arm and signal lights are on

Stop. The law requires a stop from any direction, and the only exception is for opposite-direction traffic.

You drive toward the bus on a two-lane road

Stop and stay stopped until the bus moves. Our free question page on a stopped school bus on a two-lane road lets you practice this case.

You drive toward the bus on a highway of 4 or more lanes divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median

You do not have to stop for that bus. This is the only exception in KRS 189.370. Our free question page on a barrier-divided four-lane road shows this case.

You drive toward the bus on any other highway, with no elevated barrier or unpaved median between the directions

Stop. Since July 15, 2026, opposite-direction traffic must stop on a highway that is not divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median.

When you can go again after a school bus stop

The bus driver turns on the amber flashing lights before the bus stops. When the bus is fully stopped, the driver extends the stop arm and turns on the red flashing lights before the door opens. From then on, you must not go until the bus has finished loading or unloading and has been put into motion. The Kentucky Driver Manual adds that you stay stopped until all people are clear of the roadway and the bus is in motion. The rule applies to buses with the markings and equipment that Kentucky school bus specifications require.

Kentucky school bus fines, jail terms and points as of 2026

Kentucky school bus fines, jail terms and points as of 2026
Violation	Fine or jail, by law	Points
First offense for failing to stop (court case against the driver)	$200 to $500, or 30 to 60 days in jail, or both	At least 6
Each later offense within 3 years	$300 to $1,000, or 60 days to 6 months in jail, or both	At least 6
Stop-arm camera violation, first notice (civil penalty against the vehicle owner)	$300 civil penalty	None
Each later camera violation for the same owner within 3 years	$500 civil penalty	None

How much the school bus fine rose under HB 7

Before HB 7, a first offense brought a fine of $100 to $200. Since July 15, 2026, the range is $200 to $500, so the minimum fine doubled. A judge cannot suspend the minimum fine. A later offense within 3 years carries the higher range in the table above. For a licensed driver under 18 who is charged with a moving violation, the court can make a referral to a diversion program before trial.

School bus points on your Kentucky driving record

A school bus conviction adds at least 6 points to your Kentucky driving record. For a driver under 18, 7 or more points in 2 years can lead to a license suspension or probation. For a driver 18 or older, that limit is 12 or more points in 2 years. So for a teen, one bus conviction and one more point can reach the limit. Our guide to Kentucky teen driver points and penalties explains the teen rules.

How the Kentucky stop-arm camera penalty works

1
A district puts cameras on its buses
A school district may install a camera system on its school buses. Each bus with a camera must show a warning sign to the public.
2
The owner gets a notice by mail
The notice goes by first class mail to the vehicle owner within 30 days of the violation. It warns that if the owner does not pay or contest in time, this is an admission of liability.
3
The owner pays or contests
The owner pays the civil penalty, and the school district keeps the money. Or the owner contests it, and the District Court hears the contest.
4
An unpaid penalty stops the registration
If the penalty is not paid or contested within 60 days, the police can tell the Transportation Cabinet. The cabinet then suspends the vehicle registration until the penalty is paid.

Defenses to a Kentucky stop-arm camera notice

The vehicle or its license plates were stolen before the violation.
The stop arm was not out at that time and place.
The owner was not driving. The owner must then name the driver under penalty of perjury.
The driver got a police citation for the same violation at that date and time.
The violation was necessary to let an emergency vehicle pass.
The driver was part of a funeral procession.

Key takeaways

Stop for a stopped school or church bus with its stop arm and signal lights on, from any direction.
The only exception is opposite-direction traffic on 4 or more lanes divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median.
Since July 15, 2026, a first offense brings a $200 to $500 fine, and a conviction adds at least 6 points.
A stop-arm camera penalty goes to the vehicle owner: $300, then $500 within 3 years, with no points.
Next step: practice the school bus rules on the free Kentucky Class D practice test, which is in English only.

Kentucky school bus law: common questions

Can I get a school bus ticket in the mail in Kentucky?

Yes, if the bus has a stop-arm camera. A notice goes by first class mail to the vehicle owner within 30 days of the violation. The civil penalty is $300 the first time and $500 for each later one within 3 years. It adds no points. If the owner does not pay or contest it, the vehicle registration can be suspended until the penalty is paid.

Is a camera ticket the same as a school bus conviction?

No. A camera penalty is a civil penalty against the vehicle owner, and the law says it adds no points to the record of the owner or the driver. A court conviction is against the driver. A first offense carries a fine of $200 to $500, 30 to 60 days in jail, or both, and at least 6 points.

Do I have to stop for a church bus in Kentucky?

Yes. KRS 189.370 puts school buses and church buses that carry children in the same rule. When the bus is stopped on a highway to load or unload, with the stop arm and signal lights on, you stop from any direction. The same single exception applies to opposite-direction traffic on a highway of 4 or more lanes divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median.

Do I have to stop for a school bus on a four-lane highway in Kentucky?

It depends on what divides the road. From the opposite direction, you do not stop when an elevated barrier or unpaved median divides the 4 or more lanes. With no such barrier or median, you stop. Traffic behind the bus always stops. Also, a bus driver may not load or unload passengers on the opposite side of a highway of 4 or more lanes, except at a marked pedestrian crossing.

Can the car owner get a school bus ticket if someone else was driving?

Yes, in some cases. If a violation is seen and nobody knows who was driving, the law presumes that the person in whose name the vehicle is registered or leased was the driver. The owner can rebut this. For a camera notice, the owner can use the defense of not driving, but must then name the driver under penalty of perjury.