Driving Tests

Nebraska School Bus Law: When to Stop and the $500 Fine

informational·how to guide·Published July 15, 2026

When must you stop for a school bus in Nebraska, and what is the fine?

In Nebraska, slow to 25 mph or less when a school bus has yellow lights flashing. Make a complete stop when the bus is stopped, its stop arm is out and its red lights flash, whether you meet the bus or come up behind it. Stay stopped until the lights are off, the arm is in and the bus moves. A violation brings a $500 fine and 3 points.

Where the Nebraska school bus law facts come from

The stop rules, the exceptions, the bus light distances and the $500 fine come from Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6,175. The 3 points come from Nebraska Revised Statute 60-4,182 and the Nebraska DMV point system page. The stop distance, the door timing and the median example come from the Nebraska Driver's Manual (January 2025). The under-21 course rule comes from Nebraska Revised Statute 60-4,130.03. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Nebraska DMV (dmv.nebraska.gov) before you drive.

What the school bus lights mean in Nebraska

What the school bus lights mean in Nebraska
What you see	What the bus is doing	What you must do
Yellow lights flashing	The bus is getting ready to stop	Slow to not more than 25 mph and be ready to stop
Red lights flashing and stop arm out, bus stopped	Children are getting on or off	Make a complete stop
Red lights off, arm in, bus moving	The bus is driving on	You may go on

Meeting or following a school bus: the Nebraska stop rule

The law covers a bus that you meet from the front and a bus that you overtake from the rear. It starts with the yellow lights. When they flash, slow to not more than 25 mph and prepare to stop. Our free question on what to do when a school bus's amber lights start to flash shows this rule in a short example.
When the bus is stopped, its stop arm is out and its red lights flash, make a complete stop a reasonable distance from the bus. Stay stopped until the red lights are off, the arm is in and the bus moves again.

When do the school bus lights come on?

A bus driver must turn on the yellow lights before each stop. In a city or village, they come on at least 300 feet before the stop. Outside a city or village, they come on 500 to 1,000 feet before the stop. The yellow lights stay on until the bus door opens.
When the door opens at the stop, the stop arm comes out and the red lights come on. After the children are on or off, the driver turns off the red lights, pulls in the arm and drives on.

When you do not have to stop for a school bus in Nebraska

The bus comes from the opposite direction on a divided highway

You do not have to stop for traffic from the opposite direction on a divided highway. The Driver's Manual gives the example of a roadway divided by a median.

You are on a divided highway and the bus is on a different roadway

You do not have to stop when you meet or pass a bus that is on a different roadway of the divided highway.

You are on a freeway and the bus is in a loading zone next to the highway

You do not have to stop when pedestrians may not cross the freeway at that loading zone.

The bus is parked next to a school, with a loading area warning sign

In a designated loading area out of the flow of traffic, or on a road with more than one lane in the same direction, a bus next to a school site uses only its hazard lights when the sign is out. The sign stands on its own at the rear of the bus. You do not have to stop when the sign directs traffic to proceed.

None of these cases fits

Stop for the red lights and the stop arm.

Where do children board and cross the road?

Children board and leave the bus through the right front entrance. A child who must cross the road is told to cross in front of the bus. The bus stays stopped, with the red lights on and the stop arm out, until the children reach the other side. Be alert for students on or near the road whenever a school bus is stopped. Try our free question on where children cross near a stopped bus.

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

Passing a stopped school bus is a Class IV misdemeanor. The fine is a fixed $500, and you get 3 points on your driving record.
Convictions stay on your driving record for five years. If you collect 12 points in two years, the DMV revokes your license automatically. A driver under 21 who reaches 6 points in 12 months must also take a driver improvement course: see our guide to the Nebraska teen driver points rules.

Key takeaways

Yellow lights: slow to not more than 25 mph. Red lights and stop arm: make a complete stop.
Stay stopped until the red lights are off, the arm is in and the bus moves.
You do not have to stop for opposite traffic on a divided highway, or for a bus on a different roadway.
A violation is a Class IV misdemeanor with a $500 fine and 3 points. Twelve points in two years means revocation.
Next step: practice on the free Nebraska Class O learner's license practice test.

Nebraska school bus law: common questions

Do I have to stop for a school bus on a divided highway in Nebraska?

Not when the bus comes from the opposite direction on a divided highway, and not when the bus is on a different roadway. The Driver's Manual gives the example of a roadway divided by a median. If the bus is in your direction of travel, or you are not sure, stop for the red lights.

Do I stop for a school bus with only yellow lights?

You do not have to stop yet, but you must slow to not more than 25 mph when you meet or overtake the bus. The yellow lights warn you that the bus is about to stop. Be ready to make a complete stop when the red lights come on and the arm comes out.

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

You get 3 points. Both the law and the DMV point table list 3 points for this violation. The points go on your record after a conviction, as of the date of the violation. If you forfeit bail and the court does not vacate the forfeiture, the law counts it as a conviction, so the 3 points still apply. The $500 fine comes with the points.

Can I go around a stopped school bus if I see no children?

No. When the bus is stopped with its stop arm out and its red lights flashing, you must make a complete stop, from the front or the rear. Stay stopped until the red lights go off, the arm is in and the bus moves. Children who must cross are told to cross in front of the bus, and the bus stays stopped until they reach the other side.