SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM

SAFETY PROGRAM INFORMATION

The owner of a motor vehicle that is operated in violation of Section 545.066 of the Texas Transportation Code was found in violation of passing a stopped, camera-enforced school bus displaying the visual signals required by Section 547.701(c) of the Texas Transportation Code.

Failure to pay the civil fine or to timely request an Administrative Review is considered an admission of liability for the school bus stop arm violation, and is a waiver of your right to appeal the imposition of the civil fine, and will result in the assessment of appropriate civil fines, penalties, and costs. A late payment penalty will incur if you fail to pay the civil fine or request an Administrative Review within 30 days of the issue date of your Notice of Violation.

An arrest warrant may not be issued for failure to timely pay the civil fines, penalties, and costs and that the imposition of the civil penalty may not be recorded on the vehicle owner’s driving record.

DEFINITION OF A SCHOOL BUS ARM VIOLATION

Section 545.066 of the Texas Transportation Code defines the offense of Passing a School Bus as: An operator on a highway, when approaching from either direction a school bus stopped on the highway to receive or discharge a student shall stop before reaching the school bus when the bus is operating a visual signal as required by Section 547.701; and may not proceed until the school bus resumes motion; the operator is signaled by the bus driver to proceed; or the visual signal is no longer actuated. An operator on a highway having separate roadways is not required to stop for a school bus that is on a different roadway; or if on a controlled-access highway, for a school bus that is stopped in a loading zone that is a part of or adjacent to the highway; and where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway. A highway is considered to have separate roadways only if the highway has roadways separated by an intervening space on which operation of vehicles is not permitted, a physical barrier, or a clearly indicated dividing section constructed to impede vehicular traffic; and a highway is not considered to have separate roadways if the highway has roadways separated only by a left turn lane. Section 541.302(5) of the Texas Transportation Code defines "highway or street" as the width between the boundary lines of a publicly maintained way any part of which is open to the public for vehicular traffic. The below images define what is, and is not, an offense. The vehicles in green are NOT required by law to stop, however the vehicles in red are required to stop.

Two Lane Roadway

When a school bus stops for passengers, ALL traffic from both directions must stop.

Four Lane Roadway, without a median separation

When a school bus stops for passengers, ALL traffic from both directions must stop.

Divided highway of four lanes or more, with a median separation

When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic going the SAME direction as the bus must stop.

Roadway with two lanes, four lanes or more, with a center turning lane

When a school bus stops for passengers, ALL traffic from both directions must stop.

TO PAY YOUR CIVIL PENALTY:

NOTE: The time period to pay is shown on the front of your notice in the top right corner. There may be a convenience/service fee charged by the banking institution for online and phone payments.

ONLINE: Click the PAY button on the main page.

PAYMENT BY PHONE: Call 1-866-790-4111, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

PAYMENT BY MAIL: Mail your check/money order (payable to Austin ISD) in the envelope included with your notice, along with the coupon printed at the bottom. Include the Notice # on your check/money order. Payment mailing address: Austin ISD Police Department, School Bus Stop Arm Safety Program, PO Box 742629, Cincinnati OH 45274-2629. Checks returned for Insufficient Funds will result in a NSF fee added to your penalty amount, in addition to any fees charged by your banking institution.

PAY CASH WITH MONEYGRAM: Pay at the nearest CVS Pharmacy or Walmart, or to find a MoneyGram location nearest to you, call 1-800-926-9400 or visit www.moneygram.com/locations. Use receive code 15582. There is a $4.99 convenience fee (fee subject to change).

TO CONTEST THE ALLEGED VIOLATION:

If you wish to dispute your Notice of Violation, fill out the reverse side of your Notice of Violation and mail it, along with your supporting evidence, to Violation Processing Center, P.O. Box 22091 Tempe, AZ 85285-22091 so that it is received on or before the due date on the front side your Notice of Violation. You may also fax this information to (480)990-4819 so that it is received on or before the due date on the front side your Notice of Violation. FAILURE TO TIMELY SUBMIT THIS INFORMATION IS A WAIVER OF YOUR RIGHT TO CONTEST YOUR VIOLATION. Your violation may be administratively reviewed by the Austin ISD Police Department and/or scheduled for a contested hearing before an independent hearing officer. Should the Austin ISD Police Department decide the information you provided does not meet the criteria for a dismissal, you will be automatically scheduled for a hearing before an independent hearing officer.

You may appeal the independent hearing officer's decision on the grounds that he/she exceeded his/her jurisdiction or that the decision was procured by fraud, collusion, or other unlawful means.

To appeal the independent hearing officer's decision, you must deliver your appeal petition and evidence, to "AISD Superintendent Appeal" 1111 W. 6th Street, Austin, TX, 78703, no later than 4:30 p.m. on the twentieth day after the date of your hearing before the independent hearing examiner.

QUESTIONS:

If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-866-790-4111 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM CST.