What Do You Do When the School Bus Stop Sign Is On?

Back to school means the return of school buses. With that returns the question I've often had, what is the protocol for those school bus stop signs. Is it a suggestion, a good idea or the law?

Turns out they have the power of the law behind them in Sioux Falls. Here's the word from the SFPD's Twitter.

So, there's the answer. Yes you have to stop. No you can't just go around the bus. And yes, it's the law. in fact, here's the law it self.

South Dakota Codified Laws 32-32-6.

"Duty of motorists to slow or stop in obedience to amber or red signal--Exceptions--Violation as misdemeanor. The operator of a motor vehicle on a highway that has less than two lanes of travel in each direction or a private road approaching a school bus that has its amber warning lights flashing shall reduce the speed of the vehicle not to exceed fifteen miles per hour and proceed past the school bus with caution. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a school bus that has its red signal lights flashing shall make a complete stop. The stopped vehicle shall be at least fifteen feet from the school bus and shall remain stopped until the flashing red signal lights are extinguished. A lane that is designated solely for the purpose of turning is not considered a lane of travel for purposes of this section.

The operator of a motor vehicle on a highway providing two or more lanes of travel in each direction does not need to reduce the speed of the vehicle when approaching a school bus that is traveling in the opposite direction if the school bus has its amber warning lights flashing. The operator of a motor vehicle on a highway providing two or more lanes of travel in each direction does not need to stop when approaching a school bus that is traveling in the opposite direction even though the school bus is stopped and has its red signal lights flashing.

The operator of a motor vehicle on a highway providing two or more lanes of travel in each direction approaching a school bus that is traveling in the same direction and has its amber warning lights flashing shall reduce the speed of the vehicle not to exceed fifteen miles per hour and proceed past the school bus with caution. The operator of a motor vehicle on a highway providing two or more lanes of travel in each direction shall make a complete stop when approaching a school bus traveling in the same direction if the school bus is stopped and its red signal lights are flashing.

What Do You Do When the School Bus Stop Sign Is On in Sioux Falls?