Police out in force throughout Pennsylvania to monitor school speed zones and write tickets!

It's back to school time and those yellow lights are flashing again! You need to pay extra special attention to those 15mph school zones, and watch out for children around them. The police will be looking for people who are not paying attention and they will use every opportunity to remind you to slow down.

Keep an eye out for those big yellow buses and watch for children around both the buses and school zones! Don't get your license suspended because you missed the flashing lights telling you about the school zone ahead.

3345(a)      Failure to stop for school bus with flashing red lights....60-day suspension and 5 points

§ 3345.  Meeting or overtaking school bus.
     (a)  Duty of approaching driver when red signals are
flashing.--Except as provided in subsection (g), the driver of a
vehicle meeting or overtaking any school bus stopped on a
highway or trafficway shall stop at least ten feet before
reaching the school bus when the red signal lights on the school
bus are flashing and the side stop signal arms are activated
under section 4552(b.1) (relating to general requirements for
school buses). The driver shall not proceed until the flashing
red signal lights are no longer actuated. In no event shall a
driver of a vehicle resume motion of the vehicle until the
school children who may have alighted from the school bus have
reached a place of safety. The driver of a vehicle approaching
an intersection at which a school bus is stopped shall stop his
vehicle at that intersection until the flashing red signal
lights are no longer actuated.
     (a.1)  Reports by school bus operators.--
(1)  The operator of a school bus who observes a
violation of subsection (a) may prepare a signed, written
report which indicates that a violation has occurred. To the
extent possible, the report shall include the following
information:


(i)  Information, if any, pertaining to the identity
of the alleged violator.
(ii)  The license number and color of the vehicle
involved in the violation.
(iii)  The time and approximate location at which the
violation occurred.
(iv)  Identification of the vehicle as an automobile,
station wagon, motor truck, motor bus, motorcycle or
other type of vehicle.
(2)  Within 48 hours after the violation occurs, the
school bus operator shall deliver a copy of the report to a
police officer having authority to exercise police power in
the area where the violation occurred. If the police officer
believes that the report establishes a sufficient basis for
the issuance of a citation, the officer shall file a citation
and the report with the issuing authority. If the issuing
authority determines that the report and citation establish a
sufficient basis for the issuance of a summons, a summons
shall be issued in accordance with general rules governing
the institution of proceedings in summary traffic offense cases. The issuing authority shall send the defendant a copy
of the citation, together with a statement that it was filed
by the police officer named in the citation on the basis of
information received.
(3)  A person may institute a proceeding pursuant to this
subsection or in accordance with any means authorized by the
Rules of Criminal Procedure.
(b)  Duty of approaching driver when amber signals are
flashing.--The driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking any
school bus shall proceed past the school bus with caution and
shall be prepared to stop when the amber signal lights are
flashing.
(c)  Use of red signals.--The red visual signals shall be
actuated by the driver of every school bus whenever the vehicle
is stopped on a highway or trafficway for the purpose of
receiving or discharging school children, except as provided in
subsections (e) and (f). The signals shall not be terminated
until the school children who may have alighted from the school
bus have reached a place of safety or until boarding school
children have completed boarding the bus.
(d)  Use of amber signals.--The amber visual signals shall be
actuated by the driver of every school bus not more than 300
feet nor less than 150 feet prior to making a stop for the
purpose of receiving or discharging school children and shall
remain in operation until the red visual signals are actuated.
Amber signals shall not be used unless the red visual signals
are to be actuated immediately following.
(e)  Limitations on use of signals.--The visual signals
required in the regulations shall not be actuated on streets in
urban districts designated by the department or local
authorities, at intersections or other places where traffic is
controlled by uniformed police officers or appropriately attired
persons authorized to direct, control or regulate traffic, or in
school bus loading areas designated by the department or local
authorities when the bus is entirely off the roadway.
(f)  Operation for non-school purposes.--When a school bus is
being operated upon a highway for purposes other than the actual
transportation of school children to or from school or in
connection with school activities, all markings indicating
"SCHOOL BUS" shall be covered or concealed. During such
operation, the flashing visual signals shall not be actuated.
(f.1)  Use of school buses for transportation of disabled
persons.--Whenever a school bus is being used upon a highway or
trafficway for the transportation of disabled persons
exclusively and the school bus is equipped with red signal
lights, the driver of the school bus may actuate the signal
lights in the same manner as set forth in this section regarding
the transportation of school children. The driver of a vehicle
approaching the school bus shall have the same duties regarding
stopping, passing and overtaking as he does with respect to a
school bus carrying school children.
(g)  Exceptions from stopping requirements.--The driver of a
vehicle upon a highway or trafficway with separate roadways need
not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus with actuated red
signal lights which is on a different roadway. (h)  Loading zones for school children.--Every school
district transporting school children by school bus shall
establish and maintain school bus loading zones at or near all
schools to or from which school children are transported and
shall establish school bus loading zones along the highways and
trafficways traversed by school buses in accordance with
regulations promulgated by the department.
(i)  Mandatory use of loading zones.--Whenever school bus
loading zones have been established at or near a school or along
a highway or trafficway, it is unlawful for a school bus
operator to stop the bus to pick up or discharge school children
at any location other than at the loading zones. A list of
approved loading zones for the route of the bus shall be carried
by the operator.
(j)  Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) or (f.1)
commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be
sentenced to pay a fine of $250.
(Mar. 29, 1984, P.L.155, No.30, eff. 60 days; Dec. 19, 1988,
P.L.1290, No.163, eff. imd.; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151,
eff. 60 days; Oct. 4, 2002, P.L.845, No.123, eff. 60 days)

2002 Amendment.  Act 123 amended subsec. (j). Section 13 of
Act 123 provided that the amendment of subsec. (j) shall apply
to offenses committed on or after the effective date of section
13.
1998 Amendment.  Act 151 amended subsecs. (a), (c), (f.1),
(g), (h) and (i).
1984 Amendment.  Act 30 added subsecs. (a.1) and (f.1) and
amended subsec. (j).
Cross References.  Section 3345 is referred to in sections
1535, 1553, 3101, 4552, 4553, 6506 of this title.

Top top it all off, Pennsylvania troopers are on full alert for violators. The state is currently running radio ads telling people to be aware that the police are looking to write these tickets and suspend your PA drivers license.