School is back in session across most of Minnesota, and if you have a morning commute, there’s a good chance that the big yellow school buses are once again a common sight on the road. We hope you make it a point to see these vehicles this school year, but there’s a good chance that these vehicles will also see you if you break the law!
That’s because thousands of school buses in Minnesota are now equipped with “stop arm cameras” which begin recording every time the stop arm is engaged. Speed past a bus when it’s slowing down or approaching children? Odds are the camera caught it, and there’s a decent chance that police will issue you a citation if they deem that you are in violation of the law.
Stop Arm Cameras
Back in March, Minnesota lawmakers updated a law in an effort to stop drivers from attempting to “beat the arm” when they noticed that a bus was starting to slow down. Instead of requiring that drivers halt for a bus that is stopped with its red flashing lights on and the stop arm engaged, now drivers must prepare to stop as soon as the red warning lights are turned on, which is before the stop arm is fully engaged. Requiring drivers to stop as soon as these earlier alerts occur – and equipping stop arms with recording devices – should help reduce the number of drivers who try to pass a school bus before it fully stops.
Per the law, drivers are required to stop at least 20 feet back in all directions from a bus whenever its red lights are flashing. It’s not just about the arm anymore. If you see the flashing warning lights, know that you need to give the bus at least 20 feet of space.
The data shows a concerning trend when it comes to stop arm violations across Minnesota over the last few years. Here’s a look at stop arm violation citation data by year:
2021 – 773
2022 – 1,012
2023 – 1,864
2024 – 2,105
2025 – 2,063
Although we did technically see a decline in stop arm violations last year, the numbers from 2025 are the second highest on record, and nearly three times as high as the numbers from 2021.
A citation for a stop arm violation isn’t cheap, either. Drivers can face fines up to $500 dollars if found to have committed a stop arm violation, and those penalties can increase if the driver passes the school bus on the right or injures a person in the process of passing the bus.
Speaking from personal experience, bus stop arm violation cases are tough to win. We all can empathize with normal speeding on the highway, but when you pass a school bus and put a child’s life in danger, you’re going to get less sympathy from the judge and court. We’ll help you any way we can, but your best bet is to make smart choices on the road and avoid a citation altogether. Remember, the bus arms are recording and can catch you passing on the left, so know that you can be ticketed even if police don’t witness the violation!
Stay safe and let’s ensure our children have a wonderful school year.
