47-11-705.

§47-11-705.


    A.  The driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking a school bus
that is stopped to take on or discharge school children, and on which
the red loading signals are in operation, is to stop his vehicle
before it reaches the school bus and not proceed until the loading
signals are deactivated and then proceed past such school bus at a
speed which is reasonable and with due caution for the safety of such
school children and other occupants.
    B.  Every school bus used for the transportation of school
children shall bear upon the front and rear thereof plainly visible
signs containing the words "SCHOOL BUS" in letters not less than
eight (8) inches in height and in addition shall be equipped with
visual signals meeting the requirements of Section 12-218 of this
title, which shall be actuated by the driver of said school bus
whenever but only whenever such vehicle is stopped on the highway for
the purpose of receiving or discharging school children.
    C.  The driver of a vehicle upon a highway with separate roadways
need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus which is on a
different roadway or when upon a controlled-access highway and the
school bus is stopped in a loading zone which is a part of or
adjacent to such highway and where pedestrians are not permitted to
cross the roadway.
    D.  If the driver of a school bus witnesses a violation of the
provisions of subsection A of this section, within twenty-four (24)
hours of the alleged offense, he shall report the violation, the
vehicle color, license tag number, and the time and place such
violation occurred to the law enforcement authority of the
municipality where the violation occurred.  The law enforcement
authority of a municipality shall issue a letter of warning on the
alleged violation to the person in whose name the vehicle is
registered.  The Office of the Attorney General shall provide a form
letter to each municipal law enforcement agency in this state for the
issuance of the warning provided for in this subsection.  Such form
letter shall be used by each such law enforcement agency in the exact
form provided for by the Office of the Attorney General.  A warning
letter issued pursuant to this subsection shall not be recorded on
the driving record of the person to whom such letter was issued.
Issuance of a warning letter pursuant to this section shall not
preclude the imposition of other penalties as provided by law.