Pennsylvania School Bus Stopping Law: Fines, Points and Stop-Arm Cameras
When must you stop for a school bus in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, stop at least 10 feet from a school bus with red lights flashing and its stop arm out, whether you are behind it or come toward it on the same roadway. Wait until the lights go off and the children are safe. A conviction brings a $250 fine plus a $35 surcharge, 5 points and a 60-day suspension. A camera ticket is $300, with no points.
Where the Pennsylvania school bus rules come from
The rules come from section 3345 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, with the camera rules in section 3345.1 and the points in sections 1535 and 1538. PennDOT explains them in the PUB 97 school bus stopping law flyer, the stop-arm camera program FAQ, the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual and its 2025 Operation Safe Stop release. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services (pa.gov/dmv) before you drive.
What to do when you see a school bus with lights on
- 1Slow down at amber lights
The bus driver turns on the flashing amber lights 150 to 300 feet before the bus stops. Pass with caution and be ready to stop.
- 2Stop when the red lights flash and the stop arm comes out
Stop at least 10 feet before you reach the bus. All traffic stops, unless the bus is on the other roadway of a divided highway.
- 3Stay stopped while the lights flash
Do not move until the red lights stop flashing and the stop arm is withdrawn.
- 4Wait until the children are safe
Even after the lights go off, do not move until every child who left the bus has reached a place of safety.
Do you stop on the other side of a divided highway?
Not always. The law has one exception: on a highway with separate roadways, you need not stop for a bus with red lights that is on a different roadway. The divider can be a concrete or metal median barrier, a guide rail, or a median of trees or shrubs, rocks or boulders, a stream or grass. On the other side of such a divider, reduce your speed and drive on with caution, as in this practice question on a school bus across a median barrier. Painted lines are not a divider. If you are not sure that the road counts as divided, stop.
What if the bus stops at an intersection?
If you approach an intersection where a school bus is stopped, stop at that intersection until the red lights are off. This applies whether or not a stop sign marks the intersection. After the lights go off, you still wait for the children to reach a place of safety, as in the practice question on staying stopped while a child is still crossing.
Police ticket and camera ticket at a glance
| Item | Police ticket (section 3345) | Stop-arm camera ticket (section 3345.1) |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets it | The driver, after a conviction | The vehicle owner, unless the owner is convicted under section 3345 or has a defense |
| Type of case | Summary offense (criminal) | Civil violation, not a criminal conviction |
| Money (U.S. dollars) | $250 fine plus a $35 surcharge | $300 fine |
| Points | 5 points | No points |
| License | 60-day suspension | No suspension |
| Driving record | Yes | Not part of the driving record |
What happens after a police ticket?
A conviction for failing to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights is a summary offense. The court sentences you to a $250 fine and a $35 surcharge. The point schedule adds 5 points to your driving record and a 60-day suspension. If you are under 18, a second rule applies: when points for offenses before age 18 reach 6 or more, a 90-day suspension follows the first time and 120 days each later time, served after any other suspension. The school bus offense alone is 5 points, so one more point brings a teen to 6, as the guide to Pennsylvania teen driver points explains.
How do stop-arm camera tickets work?
A school entity, such as a school district or a charter school, may install a camera system on its buses. It chooses which buses get one, and it may equip all of its buses or only some. The camera records images of a vehicle that passes the stopped bus, its license plate, and the date, time and place. A police officer reviews the evidence before the notice of violation is mailed to the vehicle owner, so a ticket is not automatic. The fine is $300. It is a civil violation: no points, no suspension, no criminal conviction, and no effect on your driving record or your insurance merit rating.
Key takeaways
- Stop at least 10 feet away when a school bus has red lights flashing and its stop arm out, from behind or from the front on the same roadway.
- At an intersection with a stopped bus, stop until the red lights are off. Then wait until the children reach a place of safety.
- The one exception is a bus on the other roadway of a highway with separate roadways, such as across a median barrier. If in doubt, stop.
- A conviction: $250 fine plus a $35 surcharge, 5 points and a 60-day suspension. A camera ticket: $300, no points.
- Next step: practice school bus and traffic rules on the free Pennsylvania Class C permit practice test.
Pennsylvania school bus law: common questions
Do I have to stop for a school bus with flashing amber lights?
No, not yet. Amber lights warn that the bus is about to stop, so slow down, pass with caution and be ready to stop. You must stop at least 10 feet away when the lights turn red and the stop arm comes out.
Do I have to stop for a school bus on a four-lane road with no median?
Yes. Traffic from both directions must stop. Only a bus on the opposite side of a highway split by a divider, such as a concrete barrier or a grass median, lets you go on with caution. Painted lines do not count. PennDOT warns that drivers on multilane highways and drivers who go the opposite way often pass buses illegally because they do not know the law.
Can I get a camera ticket if I was not driving my car?
Yes, because the notice goes to the vehicle owner. But it is a defense that the owner was not driving at the time. Only the owner can contest the violation, and the owner must ask for a hearing before a PennDOT hearing officer within 30 days of the mailing date of the notice.
How long can a school take to send a stop-arm camera ticket?
For a Pennsylvania vehicle, the notice must be mailed within 30 days after the violation, or within 30 days after the owner is identified, whichever is later. The notice is invalid unless it reaches the owner within 90 days of the violation.
Can a school bus driver report me for passing the bus?
Yes. A school bus driver who sees a violation may write a signed report with, where possible, the license number and color of your vehicle and the time and place. The bus driver must give it to a police officer within 48 hours. If the officer finds the report sufficient, the officer files a citation.
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