2011 Washington Code
Title 46 Motor vehicles
46.61 Rules of the road.
46.61.370 Overtaking or meeting school bus -- Duties of bus driver.

     *** CHANGE IN 2011 *** (SEE 5540-S.SL) ***

(1) The driver of a vehicle upon overtaking or meeting from either direction any school bus which has stopped on the roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus when there is in operation on said school bus a visual signal as specified in RCW 46.37.190 and said driver shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion or the visual signals are no longer activated.

     (2) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway divided into separate roadways as provided in RCW 46.61.150 need not stop upon meeting a school bus which is proceeding in the opposite direction and is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children.

     (3) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway with three or more marked traffic lanes need not stop upon meeting a school bus which is proceeding in the opposite direction and is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children.

     (4) The driver of a school bus shall actuate the visual signals required by RCW 46.37.190 only when such bus is stopped on the roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children.

     (5) The driver of a school bus may stop completely off the roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children only when the school children do not have to cross the roadway. The school bus driver shall actuate the hazard warning lamps as defined in RCW 46.37.215 before loading or unloading school children at such stops.

     (6) A person found to have committed an infraction of subsection (1) of this section shall be assessed a monetary penalty equal to twice the total penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110. This penalty may not be waived, reduced, or suspended. Fifty percent of the money so collected shall be deposited into the school zone safety account in the custody of the state treasurer and disbursed in accordance with *RCW 46.61.440(3).

[1997 c 80 § 1; 1990 c 241 § 8; 1965 ex.s. c 155 § 52.]

Notes:

Rules of court:  Monetary penalty schedule -- IRLJ 6.2.

     *Reviser's note: RCW 46.61.440 was amended by 2003 c 192 § 1, changing subsection (3) to subsection (4). RCW 46.61.440 was subsequently amended by 2010 c 242 § 4, changing subsection (4) to subsection (5).

Bus routes: RCW 28A.160.115.