Los Angeles School Police Department’s Traffic Safety Education Awareness

Los Angeles School Police Department (LASPD) would like to inform the school-community, of the dangers of passing school buses that are stopped, displaying it’s “RED STOP” sign with flashing red warning lights.

The driver of any vehicle, upon meeting or overtaking, from either direction, any school bus equipped with a stop sign arm which is displayed and flashing a red warning light  for the purpose of loading or unloading any school children shall, immediately bring the vehicle a stop and remain stopped until the warning light and stop arm has ceased operation.

NOTE: The driver of a vehicle upon a divided highway or multiple-lane highway need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus that is upon the other roadway.

This law was enacted to protect students as they board the school bus or disembark from the bus onto the sidewalk. Often times our children are preoccupied and NOT paying attention to the direction of the bus driver or staff and may suddenly dart out into oncoming traffic.

It is IMPORTANT to remain stopped until the warning lights, stop flashing and the stop sign arm is completely folded back inward along the bus. Motorist may then proceed with caution.

22454 (a) VC is an infraction and carries the same penalties as a regular fix stop sign violation. A person convicted of a fist violation of Section 22454 shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150) or more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

A person convicted for a second separate violation of 22454 shall be punished by fine fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

If a person is convicted of a third or subsequent violation of Section 22454 and the offense occurred within three years of two or more separate violations of Section 22454, the Department of Motor Vehicle shall SUSPEND the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle for one year.

(By: LASPD)