DMVZoneBlogPassing a stopped Texas school bus costs $500 to $1,250, and more for a repeat. The Move Over or Slow Down law now covers parking enforcement and animal control too. The rules in plain terms.
In Texas, stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing from either direction, unless it is on a separate roadway. A first offense costs $500 to $1,250. For stopped police, tow, utility, TxDOT and, since September 1, 2025, parking enforcement and animal control vehicles, move over a lane or slow to 20 mph below the limit.
Both laws are about slowing down when something ahead is stopped. Texas raised both penalties over the years, and in 2025 the Legislature widened the list of vehicles you must move over for.
| Offense | Fine | Other |
|---|---|---|
| First | $500-$1,250 | |
| Second within 5 years | $1,000-$2,000 | License can be suspended up to 6 months |
| Causing serious bodily injury | Class A misdemeanor | A repeat is a state jail felony |
On a 70 mph highway, 20 below means 50 mph. Brake early and smoothly so the driver behind you is not surprised.
A Texas school bus has red lights flashing across a center left-turn lane from you. Do you stop?
Answer: A. A left-turn lane alone does not create a separate roadway, so you must stop.
You cannot change lanes for a tow truck with lights on a 65 mph road. What speed should you slow to?
Answer: B. Slow to 20 mph below the posted limit: 45 mph.
Which vehicles were added to the Texas move over law on September 1, 2025?
Answer: B. SB 305 added parking enforcement and animal control vehicles.
$500 to $1,250 for a first offense, and $1,000 to $2,000 for a repeat within five years.
If you cannot move over, slow to 5 mph when passing a covered vehicle on a road posted 25 mph or less.
Yes. It applies whenever you approach a covered stopped vehicle with its lights on.
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 Texas 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.
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