So I was behind this school bus for like an hour on a one-lane road. When we hit a clearing, the bus pulled way over to the right (almost like 2 lanes over). I thought it was to let me pass, but nope! Now I got this notice saying I have to pay $403 or face jail time. What am I supposed to do??
Ugh, that’s rough! In Virginia, passing a school bus when it’s stopped with the lights flashing is a big deal. You might wanna double-check if you got any video or pics that show what happened. Some buses have cameras now.
@Lyle
Yeah, I think some places use cameras for this stuff now. If there’s footage, they might be able to help you out. Have you tried reaching out to the court yet?
Wei said:
@Lyle
Yeah, I think some places use cameras for this stuff now. If there’s footage, they might be able to help you out. Have you tried reaching out to the court yet?
Not yet, but I guess that’s my next step. I should ask if I can set up a payment plan or something since I can’t pay all at once.
That sounds like a nightmare! 
Honestly, I’d try explaining what happened in court. The judge might reduce your fine if they understand you thought the bus was pulling over for you.
Kip said:
That sounds like a nightmare!
Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely bring that up. I just didn’t realize how strict the law is about this.
I had something similar happen before. Even though it was rural, I still got hit with a fine. You can check if you’re eligible for a public defender too, especially if jail time is an option.
Kai said:
I had something similar happen before. Even though it was rural, I still got hit with a fine. You can check if you’re eligible for a public defender too, especially if jail time is an option.
Wait, what’s a public defender? I’ve never dealt with this kind of stuff before.
@Kai
Oh, it’s a lawyer provided by the state if you can’t afford one. It’s good for situations like this where jail time is on the line.
Also, check your ticket. It might have the option to contest it in court. Sometimes you can reduce the fine or get more time to pay.
Cory said:
Also, check your ticket. It might have the option to contest it in court. Sometimes you can reduce the fine or get more time to pay.
I’ll do that! Thanks for the tip. I just didn’t want to get stuck with all this without knowing what to do.
Good luck with everything! If it gets worse, try contacting a traffic lawyer for more help. They might have some options you haven’t thought of.
Shai said:
Good luck with everything! If it gets worse, try contacting a traffic lawyer for more help. They might have some options you haven’t thought of.
I might do that. The notice didn’t really explain much. I’ll see if I can find more info before the court date.