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🚸 Washington’s School Bus Safety Laws

by | Aug 26, 2025 | Articles

🚸 What Every Driver Must Know

When you see a school bus stop sign extend and red lights flash, Washington law requires drivers to stop. Failing to do so can result in hefty fines, potential criminal charges, and devastating consequences for children. Washington school bus laws are important to follow!

At Althauser Rayan Abbarno, our attorneys want you to understand these laws, the risks of violations, and what to do if your child suffers an injury near a school bus.

📜 Washington State School Bus Laws

  • RCW 46.61.370 requires drivers traveling in the same direction as a school bus to stop—no matter how many lanes there are.
  • Drivers traveling in the opposite direction must stop on a two-lane road (one lane each way).
  • Drivers do not have to stop if the roadway has:
    • Three lanes (one each direction plus a center turn lane)
    • A divided highway with a barrier
    • Two or more lanes going each direction

🚦 Yellow lights = the bus is preparing to stop.
🛑 Red lights & stop sign paddle = you must stop. Do not move until the lights turn off and the paddle retracts.

💸 Penalties for Passing a School Bus

  • Fines for passing a stopped school bus start at $500+.
  • Revenue from fines goes to Washington’s School Safety Zone Account to improve student safety.
  • Violations may also lead to:
    • Increased insurance premiums (except for camera tickets – see below)
    • Civil lawsuits for injury or wrongful death
    • Criminal charges such as Vehicular Homicide (up to life in prison and $50,000 fine) if a child is killed

🎥 School Bus Camera Tickets

Under RCW 46.61.370 and RCW 46.63.180, school buses are equipped with cameras to catch violators.

✅ Good news: Camera tickets are processed like parking tickets.

  • They are issued to the vehicle’s registered owner
  • They do not appear on your driving record
  • They are not reported to insurance companies

⚠️ But: The fine still applies, and if someone else was driving your car, you may still receive the ticket in the mail.

🚑 What to Do If Your Child Is Hurt in a School Bus Incident

Unfortunately, some drivers ignore the law, putting children at risk. If your child is struck near a school bus:

  1. Call 911 immediately and seek emergency medical care.
  2. Document everything – medical records, accident scene photos, driver’s information, witness contacts.
  3. Get the police report for legal purposes.
  4. Call an experienced injury attorney at Althauser Rayan Abbarno to protect your rights.

⚖️ Why Choose Althauser Rayan Abbarno?

If your family has been impacted by a vehicle accident, you deserve justice.

  • ✅ Free consultations
  • ✅ Spanish translation services available
  • ✅ Experienced injury attorneys serving Centralia, Chehalis, and Southwest Washington

📞 Call us today at (360) 736-1301
🌐 Visit us online: CentraliaLaw.com

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