What are the penalties for failing to stop for a school bus?

Failing to stop for a school bus carries significant penalties because of the critical importance of ensuring the safety of children. When a school bus is displaying its stop sign and lights, it signals that children are either boarding or disembarking from the bus, creating a potential hazard for them. As a result, Massachusetts law imposes not only fines for this violation but also points on your driving record. The combination of financial consequences and demerits is intended to emphasize the seriousness of the offense and to encourage drivers to adhere strictly to the law for the safety of all road users, especially children. This reinforces safe driving behavior and compliance with traffic regulations concerning school zones.