Fort Collins Police Remind Drivers to Stop for School Buses with Flashing Red Lights
Fort Collins Police are reinforcing school bus safety rules, urging drivers to make complete stops when buses display flashing red lights and extended stop arms as children load and unload throughout the city.
The department emphasized October 21 that drivers must remain vigilant around school buses and watch for children crossing streets near bus stops.
"Drivers — safety starts with you," the department stated. "Keep bus stop safety at the top of your list. If you see a school bus with flashing red lights, make sure to stop and wait."
State Law Requires 20-Foot Stop Distance
Colorado law mandates that drivers in both directions must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm, according to Colorado Revised Statutes 42-4-1903. The requirement applies regardless of lane or direction unless the road is divided by a physical barrier such as a concrete median or landscaped island.
Painted medians or double yellow lines do not qualify as physical barriers under the law. Drivers on both sides of roadways separated only by paint must stop when buses activate their warning systems.
Legislative updates from May 2025 clarified that the divided roadway exception applies only where physical barriers exist, eliminating previous confusion about when stopping requirements apply.
Violations Carry Steep Fines and Points
Drivers who fail to stop for school buses with activated stop arms face significant penalties under Colorado law.
First-time violations result in fines of at least $250 and add six points to the driver's license. Repeat offenses within five years carry increased fines and potential court-ordered community service or jail time in aggravated cases.
The six-point penalty moves drivers substantially closer to license suspension thresholds. Colorado suspends licenses for adults accumulating 12 points within 12 consecutive months or 18 points within 24 consecutive months.
Hundreds of Violations Reported Statewide
Stop-arm violations remain a persistent problem across Colorado despite educational campaigns and enforcement efforts.
A 2024 statewide survey found approximately 350 stop-arm violations reported in a single day across Colorado. One local school district reported 24 violations in a single day during the count, illustrating the frequency of such incidents.
The Colorado State Patrol recorded 15 citations statewide for passing stopped school buses in 2024, with nine additional citations issued between January and May 2025. Officials estimate many more violations go unreported because they are not directly witnessed by law enforcement or school bus drivers.
Over the last five years, Colorado State Patrol reported five crashes statewide directly attributable to motorists failing to stop for school buses, including one crash that caused injuries.
Multiple Agencies Enforce School Bus Laws
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office, Fort Collins Police Department and Colorado State Patrol enforce school bus safety laws within Larimer and Weld Counties.
Law enforcement agencies issue citations based on direct observation or evidence from school bus cameras. While some states authorize automated citations from bus-mounted cameras, Colorado does not have clear statewide statutory authority for camera-issued tickets as of 2025.
Enforcement typically depends on officers witnessing violations or reviewing bus camera footage provided by school districts for evidence in criminal cases.
Districts Maintain Comprehensive Safety Programs
Poudre School District and Fort Collins Public Schools require all bus drivers to hold valid Commercial Driver's Licenses with school bus endorsements and complete annual safety training.
All elementary students receive age-appropriate classroom instruction and practical demonstrations on school bus safety, including how to approach buses safely, recognize danger zones around vehicles, and cross streets correctly.
Districts revised training materials following the May 2025 legislative update to clarify new stopping requirements and the definition of divided versus undivided roadways.
Fort Collins Police emphasized that brief delays for school bus stops can prevent tragedy.
"It only takes a second to make a big difference," the department stated.