H.B. 205 Enrolled

SCHOOL BUS TRAFFIC SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS
1999 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: David Ure
AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS FOR
PASSING A SCHOOL BUS.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
41-6-100.10, as last amended by Chapter 94, Laws of Utah 1998
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 41-6-100.10 is amended to read:
41-6-100.10. School bus -- Signs and light signals -- Flashing amber lights -- Flashing
red lights -- Passing school bus -- Duty to stop -- Travel in opposite direction -- Penalties.
(1) (a) Every school bus, when operated for the transportation of school children, shall
bear upon the front and rear of the bus a plainly visible sign containing the words "school bus" in
letters not less than eight inches in height, which shall be removed or covered when the vehicle
is not in use for the transportation of school children.
(b) Every school bus, when operated for the transportation of school children, shall be
equipped with alternating flashing amber and red light signals visible from the front and rear, of
a type approved and mounted as prescribed by the department.
(2) The operator of any vehicle upon a highway, upon meeting or overtaking any school
bus equipped with signals required under this section which is displaying alternating flashing
amber warning light signals, shall slow his vehicle, but may proceed past the school bus using due
care and caution at a speed not greater than specified in Subsection 41-6-46 (2) for school zones
for the safety of the school children that may be in the vicinity.
(3) If a school bus is displaying alternating flashing red light signals visible from the front
or rear, all approaching or overtaking vehicles on the same roadway shall stop immediately before
reaching the bus and may not proceed until the flashing red light signals cease operation. The

operator of a vehicle need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus traveling in the opposite
direction when:
(a) traveling upon a divided highway;
(b) the bus is stopped at an intersection or other place controlled by [an official] a
traffic-control [device] signal or by a peace officer; or
(c) upon a highway of five or more lanes, which may include a left-turn lane or two-way left
turn lane.
(4) (a) The operator of a school bus shall operate alternating flashing red light signals at all
times when children are unloading from a school bus to cross a highway, or when a school bus is
stopped for the purpose of loading children who must cross a highway to board the bus, or at any
other time when it would be hazardous for vehicles to proceed past the stopped school bus.
(b) The alternating flashing red light signals may not be operated except when the school
bus is stopped for loading or unloading school children or for any emergency purpose.
(5) (a) A violation of Subsection (2) or (3) is a class C misdemeanor and the minimum fine
shall be:
(i) $100 for a first offense;
(ii) $200 for a second offense within three years of a previous conviction or bail forfeiture;
and
(iii) $500 for a third and subsequent offense within three years of a previous conviction or
bail forfeiture.
(b) The court may order the person to perform compensatory service in lieu of the fine or
any portion of the fine if the court makes the reasons for the waiver part of the record.
(6) The Driver License Division shall develop and implement a record system to distinguish:
(a) a conviction or bail forfeiture under this section from other convictions; and
(b) between a first and subsequent conviction or bail forfeiture under this section.

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