@llecs wrote:
I'm two vehicles behind a school bus. The school bus drifts to the right shoulder and turns on his yellow lights. I assume they are going to drop off some school kids so I slow down and prepare to stop along with the car in front of me. The red lights w/ the swingable stop sign aren't out yet. The car in front slows and after 5 seconds, he decides to pass the bus, who still didn't put on the red lights. I approach the bus at a very slow speed and it is now 10-15 seconds since it's wheels had already stopped with the flashing yellow and I assumed that maybe they wanted the cars to pass and perhaps some kids had to cross the street. I make a decision to go around since there are still no red lights or red stop sign UNTIL my front bumper is ahead if it's front bumper and I look to the side (back and to the right) of my car and see the red stop sign come out. I pass and the bus driver honks.
Again, no tickets, but if a cop were standing there, did I commit a traffic infraction (and yes, state law is different everywhere, but the rules are fairly consistent)?
You began to pass before the lights turned red and the stop sign came out, not after. If the laws concerning the lights of a school bus are consistant with the laws of a traffic light, I'd say technically you did not break the letter of the law. However if an officer had seen you he likely would've given you a ticket regardless.
