Louisiana School Bus Law: When to Stop and the Penalties
Do you have to stop for a school bus on the other side of the road in Louisiana?
Yes, unless the bus is on a different roadway of a highway with separate roadways. In Louisiana, stop not less than 30 feet from a stopped school bus with its signals on, whether you meet it or follow it. Stay stopped until it moves or the signals go off. The basic penalty is a $100 to $500 fine, up to 6 months in jail, or both, plus a license suspension.
Where the school bus rules come from
Louisiana sets the school bus stop rule and the fines in R.S. 32:80. The license suspension periods are in R.S. 32:414(A)(2). The Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) explains the rule in the Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 6. This guide uses these texts as of 2026. Where the Driver's Guide goes beyond the law, the text says so. Confirm the rules with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (expresslane.org) before you drive.
When do you have to stop for a school bus in Louisiana?
You must stop when a school bus has stopped to pick up or drop off children and its required visual signals are on. The law covers a driver "meeting or overtaking from any direction" the bus. The practice question on stopping for a school bus tests the case where you follow the bus.
During the school year, buses are on the road most in a three-hour period in the morning and a three-hour period in the afternoon.
How far back to stop for a school bus
Stop not less than 30 feet from the school bus, before you reach it. Do not go until the bus moves again or the signals are no longer on. Before you drive again, look around you. Never pass a bus with its red lights flashing, on the right or on the left.
When you follow a bus, increase your following distance for a better view, and expect the bus to stop at its pickup and drop-off points.
What the school bus signals mean
| Signal | What the bus driver does | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Amber lamps | The bus driver turns them on 100 to 500 feet before each required stop | Be ready to stop |
| Red lamps and stop signal arms | The bus driver turns them on when the bus stops | Stop at least 30 feet back and stay stopped |
| Lamps and arms off | The bus driver turns them off when the bus moves again | You may go when the bus moves or the signals are off |
When you do not have to stop for a school bus
The law gives two exceptions. First, on a highway with separate roadways, you do not stop for a bus on a different roadway. The practice question on a bus across a median tests this case. Second, on a controlled access highway, you do not stop when the bus is in a loading zone where pedestrians may not cross.
A road with one lane each way and a two-way left-turn lane is not a divided highway. On that road, drivers from both directions must stop.
The Driver's Guide names the types of separation: a ditch, a grassy median, a concrete barrier or another obstacle that traffic cannot drive on.
Do you stop for the bus? Check by road type
Fines, jail and suspensions for passing a stopped school bus
| Case | Fine | Jail | License suspension |
|---|---|---|---|
| No injury | $100 to $500 | Up to 6 months (fine, jail or both) | 30 days (first conviction), 60 days (second), 1 year (third) |
| Injury to another person | $200 to $500 | Up to 6 months may be added | May be suspended up to 90 days |
| Serious bodily injury | $500 to $1,000 | Up to 6 months may be added | May be suspended up to 180 days |
| Death | $1,000 to $5,000 | Up to 12 months may be added | May be suspended up to 360 days, or the R.S. 32:414(A)(2) period if that is longer |
How the school bus penalties work
R.S. 32:80 sets the fines and jail terms in the table. For a conviction of failure to stop, R.S. 32:414(A)(2) requires a license suspension: 30 days for a first conviction, 60 days for a second and one year for a third.
When the violation hurts a person, the fine goes up, and the jail term comes in addition to the fine. In these cases the law says the license "may" be suspended, up to the limit in the table. Serious bodily injury includes unconsciousness, extreme physical pain or a substantial risk of death. Teen drivers can also read about the other penalties for teen drivers in Louisiana.
Can the bus driver report you and the owner get the ticket?
Yes. A school bus driver may report a violation to law enforcement within 24 hours. The report must be in writing on a school board form, signed under penalty of criminal prosecution in front of two witnesses. It must give the license plate number and the color of the vehicle.
On that report, the authority may cite the owner of the vehicle, or the lessee of a leased vehicle. The owner or lessee is not cited if the vehicle was stolen or if another driver is cited.
Key takeaways
- Stop at least 30 feet from a school bus with its signals on, from any direction, and stay stopped until the bus moves or the signals go off.
- Amber lamps come on 100 to 500 feet before the stop. Red lamps and the stop arms come on when the bus stops.
- On a road with one lane each way and a two-way left-turn lane, traffic from both directions must stop. On a highway with separate roadways, you need not stop for a bus on the other roadway.
- The basic penalty is a $100 to $500 fine, up to 6 months in jail, or both, and a license suspension of 30 days, 60 days or 1 year. Injury or death raises the penalty.
- Next step: practice the school bus rules on the free Louisiana Class E practice test, in English.
Louisiana school bus law: common questions
Do I stop for a school bus on a road with a center turn lane?
It depends on the number of lanes. With one lane each way and a two-way left-turn lane, the law says the road is not divided, so drivers from both directions stop. With two lanes each way and a center turn lane, the Driver's Guide says drivers on the opposite side need not stop. Drivers behind the bus must stop.
Do I have to stop for a school bus on a four-lane road?
Yes, if no barrier separates the two directions. The Driver's Guide says drivers must stop on a four-lane road with no barrier. If a ditch, a grassy median or a concrete barrier separates the lanes, drivers on the other side need not stop. Drivers behind the bus must stop at least 30 feet back.
Do I stop for a school bus with only amber lights on?
Amber lamps are the warning that the bus will stop. The bus driver turns them on 100 to 500 feet before the stop, so be ready to stop. The law requires you to stop when the bus has stopped and its signals are on: the red lamps and the stop arms.
What is the fine for passing a school bus in Louisiana?
The basic fine is $100 to $500, or up to 6 months in jail, or both. If the violation injures a person, the fine is $200 to $500. Serious bodily injury means a fine of $500 to $1,000, and a death means a fine of $1,000 to $5,000. Jail time can be added in these cases.
How long is a license suspension for not stopping for a school bus?
Louisiana suspends the license for 30 days after a first conviction, 60 days after a second and one year after a third. When the violation injures someone, the license may be suspended for up to 90 days, or up to 180 days for serious bodily injury. For a death, it can be up to 360 days or longer.
Can the owner of the car get the ticket?
Yes. The bus driver can report the license plate number and vehicle color in a signed written report with two witnesses, within 24 hours. The authority may then cite the owner of the vehicle, or the lessee of a leased car. The owner is not cited if the vehicle was stolen or another driver is cited.
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