Stopping for school buses and moving over in Florida
Failing to stop for a Florida school bus is a $200 fine and 4 points, and passing on the side where children load is $400. Since January 1, 2025, you must also move over for any car stopped with hazard lights on.
DZ DMVZone editorial · November 12, 2026 · 6 min read
Quick answer
In Florida, failing to stop for a school bus with its stop arm out costs a $200 fine and 4 points, and passing on the side where children get on and off costs $400. For the move over law, change lanes or slow to 20 mph under the limit for emergency, service and utility vehicles, and since 2025, for any car stopped with hazard lights flashing.
Failing to stop for a bus
$200 + 4 points
Passing on the loading side
$400, court hearing
Bus camera fine
$225, no points
Move over speed
20 mph under the limit
Both laws protect people standing next to traffic: children crossing to a bus, and officers, tow drivers and stranded drivers on the shoulder. Florida has tightened both in recent years.
School buses
Two-lane road
Traffic in both directions stops
Multi-lane road with no median
Traffic in both directions stops
Divided highway
Opposite traffic may continue only if a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least 5 feet wide separates you
Violation
Fine
Other penalties
Failing to stop for a stopped school bus
$200
4 points. Second offense in 5 years: suspension of 180 days to 1 year
Passing on the side where children load
$400
4 points, mandatory hearing. Second offense in 5 years: suspension of 1 to 2 years
Caught by a school bus stop-arm camera
$225
No points, cannot be used for insurance rates
Passing a bus and seriously injuring or killing someone
Set by the court
6 points
Move over: what to do
Move one lane away from the stopped vehicle if you can do it safely.
If you cannot move over, slow to 20 mph below the posted limit.
If the limit is 20 mph or less, slow to 5 mph.
The law covers police, fire and ambulances, tow trucks, utility and sanitation vehicles, road maintenance vehicles, and since January 1, 2025, any vehicle stopped with hazard lights, flares or emergency signs, including a car with a flat tire. FLHSMV reported 205 move over crashes and more than 17,500 citations in 2024.
Good to know
Drivers in their 20s were the group most likely to break the move over law in 2024, according to FLHSMV. On a highway, start changing lanes as soon as you see flashing lights ahead.
Check yourself3 questions
A school bus is stopped on a four-lane road with no median. What must traffic in the other direction do?
Answer: C. Without a raised barrier or 5-foot unpaved median, both directions stop.
The limit is 60 mph and you cannot change lanes for a car with its hazards on. What speed?
Answer: C. Slow to 20 mph below the limit: 40 mph.
What is the fine for passing a Florida school bus on the side where children enter and exit?
Answer: C. It is a $400 fine, plus points and a required court hearing.
Questions parents and drivers ask
Do Florida school buses have cameras?
Yes, a 2023 law lets school districts use stop-arm cameras. A camera violation is a $225 civil penalty with no points.
Do I have to move over for a car with a flat tire?
Yes. Since January 1, 2025, the law covers any vehicle stopped with hazard lights, flares or emergency signs.
What does a move over ticket cost?
It is a moving violation with a fine, fees and points. The amount depends on the county.
Official sources
Checked against these pages on November 12, 2026. Laws change, so open the source before you rely on a number.
Rules and fees change. Always confirm the details with the official Florida DMV or motor vehicle agency before you act. DMVZone practice questions are written to teach the rules and are not copies of the real test.
