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LarryH wrote:My lawyer called yesterday. Based on his talks with the prosecutor, passing a stopped school bus is definitely a Class C, so will not affect CHL. That being the case, we'll go with "no contest" and request deferred adjudication.

That's good news. Thanks for the update.

chartreuse wrote:

chabouk wrote:

puma guy wrote:This is off the main topic, but does anyone know the maximum speed reduction allowed for school zones?

I don't know, but most of the "school zones" around here are ridiculous. Not for the speed reduction, but for the fact that they exist at all.

It's one thing to have a school zone at an elementary school in a neighborhood with sidewalks and crossing guards, but it's quite another to have one on a 5 lane highway with no sidewalks, no crosswalks, and a high school that sits 1/4 mile off the road. It's flat-out ridiculous to have one at the college.

But... but... Won't somebody please think of the children?!

Ed Zachary!

LarryH wrote:Also planning to find a good traffic lawyer, as you mentioned in another post. One of my first questions will probably be about the possibility of pleading guilty to a lesser (Class C) offense, so I can keep the CHL. Seems unjust, to say the least, to take away someone's ability to legally defend himself for a moment's inattention that didn't (at least I don't think it could have) endanger anybody.

I hope things work out for you.

martywj wrote:You may want to look into this very closely??
The fine for the passing the stopped school bus ticket is one of the most expensive. Used to be $1000, the only one more expensive was doing it in a construction zone(fines doubled).

Yikes! A couple years ago I got a ticket for going 30mph in a 20 mph school zone. I think it was $200.

LarryH - Sorry for hijacking your thread, but I found the law in the Transportation Code.
Sec. 545.066. PASSING A SCHOOL BUS; OFFENSE. (a) An operator on a highway, when approaching from either direction a school bus stopped on the highway to receive or discharge a student:

(1) shall stop before reaching the school bus when the bus is operating a visual signal as required by Section 547.701; and

(2) may not proceed until:

(A) the school bus resumes motion;

(B) the operator is signaled by the bus driver to proceed; or

(C) the visual signal is no longer actuated.

(b) An operator on a highway having separate roadways is not required to stop:

(1) for a school bus that is on a different roadway; or

(2) if on a controlled-access highway, for a school bus that is stopped:

(A) in a loading zone that is a part of or adjacent to the highway; and

(B) where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway.

Thanks Keith.

Larry - Sorry you got the ticket, but thanks for the feedback. I have a question about this law that maybe you or some one can answer. Do you have to stop on a divided road [one with a median strip]? I wonder because I have seen some people stop and others go past the flashing red lights.