Yea, I got a traffic ticket, for not stopping for a school bus with its stop signs out none the less. Now before you go throwing me under that bus, read the whole story.

I am traveling down a 4 lane rd with a small (3'?) median. I'll start from say 1/2 a mile up the road before where I "didn't stop for the school bus" at about 6:15 or so in the morning. I'm on the inside lane, going about 46 maybe 47 in a 45 mph zone and up ahead I see a school bus in the right hand lane about half way from where the "incident" occured traveling I don't know, maybe a little slower and there is a car near the school bus ahead of me in my lane and I think going maybe the same speed.

Just a short time/distance later the car is slowing down coming to a stop while the school bus is turning into the entrance to a subdivision but actually pulling in slightly and turning left and coming to a stop in an almost parallel position to the road that I am and we were travelling on. At the same time, I was pulling up behind the car while slowing down. The school bus did not have any stop lights on or stop signs out and I am uncertain of whats going on. Across from the entrance to the subdivision is road where a truck had pulled from while I was coming up on the car and the truck entered the median and was stoping. With this, I'm not sure if the car is stopping because of the truck pulling into the median or what. I had slowed down to about 10mph or so says the cop as I changed lanes into the right lane and eased through. While doing so, I looked to the left and saw the trucks lights and looked to the right and that's when I saw the OTHER bus on the inside with its stop signs out and lights flashing. Keep in mind I was already in the process of passing and looking to the right/rear when I saw that bus.

I explained that to the cop and I would have bet money he was about to let me go, understanding that the 2nd or blocking bus had indeed blocked my view. He said well let me go run your license and went to his car.

I have to say I got to have about the worst driving record you can have without having a DUI or bad crash etc, but ALOT of speeding tickets. When the cop came back up he handed me a ticket... I was like, you gotta be kidding me. I tried to explain it to him but I could tell now he was set with his decision and tried to make it sound as if the busses were one behind the other.


I went back and took a few pictures. Where you see my car is where the school bus that did have its stop signs out and lights flashing. I dont see how that could be the case. Here are the pics.

I called a few attorneys and most wouldn't even listen to the explaination and others wanted 500 bucks up to 1500. Even my man Rick Silverman didn't want to touch it.

I am going to take it to court myself and pleade my case. The officer told me that this wasn't the "bad ticket", he said because I ran the stop sign on the opposite side of the bus from where the kids load up at.





And my great work of art! MS Paint ftmfw!!!!

btw, this is at the time of the "incident" and the blocking bus had just come to a stop.




What do you pros know that will help my ass out when it's court time?

 

Good luck fighting that. I couldn't imagine a judge throwing out a ticket for anyone not seeing a stopped school bus w/red lights blinking. People, for the most part, are very sympathetic to children safety. The only thing you can hope for is the cop doesn't show up to court.

 

I think it will be a tough case but if your picture is accurate and there was no way to see the stopped bus with the stop signs out because it was blocked by another bus you may be able to get them to withhold adjudication, or hope the cop don't show up, because with a bad driving record the judge will look upon you as guilty until proven innocent........I've gotten out of a few but I have an almost spotless driving record

 

You didn't read the whole post did you?

 

I agree.

 

Man that sucks. I wish I could help but don't know anyone that can. Good luck.

 

Yea, thanks Dean, but I think the reality of it is no matter what else is said or fact, none of it will matter because the words Children and School Bus are in the case.


....... But your honor, there were 4 buses deep along with a train and a 200' tall pile of dirt between the me and the school bus where there may have been children about to load so I couldn't see the school bus let alone the stop signs......


..."Son, not only do you have to pay the fine, you will need to turn over your first born"......

 

I read the whole post. The legal system isn't very lenient when it comes to these sorts of citations. Good luck fighting it. I think the only chance you'll really have of having it thrown out is if the cop doesn't show.

 

Good description of scene. It is an unfortunate chain of events. I would go to court also because of the circumstances. The judge may be lenient if you show full respect and admit a dirty record.

 

Even if the cop dosn't show he can hold over for trial where the officer can be there to testify.

I have only seen this done once in traffic court. It was a school bus stop sign ticket.

I hope and wish you the best with the ticket! I think it sucks that the courts don't really care at all what happened if it has to do with a bus.


With all that said, I would still go to court and give it a shot! What you have posted here and the diagram you did you do have a chance!!

BTW Judges don't like it much when people bring lawyers in to traffic court.

Good luck once again.