Pennsylvania drivers face new penalties for passing school buses under a law signed Oct. 22.

Act 89 of 2026, which grew out of Senate Bill 65, raises the minimum distance a driver must stop behind a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm out. The old requirement was 10 feet. The new one is 15 feet, according to a Pennsylvania Senate Republican news release published Oct. 27. Fox 43 reported the bill was signed into law on Oct. 22.

The law also adds teeth to the state's point system. Drivers who fail to slow down and prepare to stop when a bus flashes its amber lights will now receive two points on their license, The Times-Tribune reported. Failing to stop for a bus with red lights already carried five points and a 60-day suspension.

Higher fines, mandatory courses

Fines for failing to stop at the new 15-foot distance rise from a flat $250 to between $250 and $500, plus a $35 surcharge deposited into the state's School Bus Safety Grant Program, according to The Times-Tribune. Repeat offenders face fines of at least $500 and must attend a driver-improvement course or pass a special examination.

For amber-light violations, first-time offenders will pay at least $100 plus a $35 surcharge. Repeat amber-light offenders face fines of at least $250 and a mandatory course or exam.

Local connections

The East Stroudsburg Area School District already participates in the state's School Bus Safety Grant Program. PennDOT awarded the district $38,750 in July to help train new bus drivers. The $35 surcharges collected under Act 89 will feed that same grant fund.

The Monroe County STOP DWI and Traffic Safety program has urged drivers to obey the stop-arm law, citing the frequency of violations in the county.

Statewide, the problem is growing. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts reported that police citations for speeding in a school zone and illegally passing a school bus rose 31.7% over several years, climbing from 4,306 in 2021 to 5,669 in 2025, according to The Times-Tribune. PennDOT's Automated School Bus Enforcement Program recorded 76,413 violations in 2024, more than triple the 24,085 recorded in 2023. The Senate Republican news release said expanded automated enforcement contributed to the increase in documented violations.

Education first, then enforcement

The law's educational provisions take effect in December. PennDOT must create a document spelling out drivers' duties around school buses and the penalties for violations. That document will be attached to license renewal notices and sent to the state Department of Education, which will distribute it to every school district, according to The Times-Tribune.

Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, of Lehman Township sponsored the legislation. Baker's district covers parts of Luzerne and Wayne counties and all of Pike, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties, not Monroe County. Gerry Wosewick, executive director of the Pennsylvania School Bus Association, said in the Senate Republican news release that the stiffer penalties and educational provisions were necessary to safeguard students.

The stopping-distance increase and enhanced penalties take effect in one year.