Back-to-school traffic laws at a glance

MOSES LAKE — It’s that time of year for kids to return to school around the Columbia Basin. With an increased number of school buses and traffic on the roads there is a number of back-to-school related traffic laws that drivers need to be aware of.

The speed limit in school zones is 20 mph when children are present, or when school zone lights are flashing, and drivers who go over reduced speed limits by even 5 mph could be issued a $214 ticket, with school zone fines going all the way up to $808.

Washington law requires all motorists who are traveling in the same direction as a school bus are required to stop when the bus’ stop sign paddle is extended and the red lights are flashing, according to information provided by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Violators face a $419 penalty if caught. Drivers are not permitted to pass a school bus in either direction on a two-lane road. On four-lane roads drivers going in the same direction as the bus cannot pass, but vehicles traveling in the opposite direction are permitted to pass if safe to do so. Additional fines include: $228 for failing to stop for a crossing guard and $136 for failure to yield to a pedestrian.

The school-related penalty structure is important not only in terms of safety, but also with regard to drivers piling up moving violations. The Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) has the ability to suspend a person’s driver’s license for 60 days if they are ticketed for six moving violations in a year. Drivers can get placed on probation by the DOL for a year if they accrue four moving violations in 12 months or receive five moving violations in 24 months.

In the probationary period a driver can have their license suspended for 30 days if they are ticketed with two or more moving violations. To reinstate a license after suspension a driver will be placed on another year of probation.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.