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Passing a stopped school bus in Texas

A school bus ticket in Texas costs $635–$887 across 8 courts.

Fine$635–$887across 8 courts
PointsNo points, tickets are counted
Driving safety course (defensive driving)Yes

Add up my ticket All Texas rules

How much does each court charge for a school bus ticket?

Austin Municipal Court charges the most, at $887. Fort Bend County charges $645–$650.

Austin Municipal Court$887
Tarrant CountyAt least $884
Williamson County$635–$884
Fort Worth Municipal Court$663
Bexar County$661
Dallas Municipal Court$659
El Paso Municipal Court$659
Fort Bend County$645–$650

Amount on your notice (not published): Harris County, Dallas County, Houston Municipal Courts, San Antonio Municipal Court, Travis County, Collin County, Montgomery County.

What does each court charge?

Tarrant County

  • School busAt least $884

Bexar County

  • School bus$661

Dallas Municipal Court

  • School bus$659

Austin Municipal Court

  • School bus$887

Fort Worth Municipal Court

  • School bus$663

Fort Bend County

  • Fail to stop/remain stopped for school bus$645
  • Fail to stop/remain stopped for school bus$650

El Paso Municipal Court

  • School bus$659

Williamson County

  • Unlawful passing of school bus$635
  • School zone violations (disregard school bus loading/unloading)$884

Does a school bus ticket add points in Texas?

No points. DPS counts convictions for moving violations: 4 or more convictions from different incidents in 12 consecutive months, or 7 or more in 24 months, makes you a 'habitual violator' and DPS must suspend your license (Transp. Code §521.292(a)(3), (b)). Moving violations from any state or Canadian province count. Seat-belt violations and certain size/weight offenses do not count. Under 18: 2 or more moving-violation convictions within 12 months is grounds for suspension. A ticket dismissed after a driving safety course or deferred disposition is not a conviction and does not count (CCP Arts. 45A.305(b), 45A.357(a)). DPS waived all existing DRP surcharge assessments and DRP suspensions on Sept. 1, 2019.[1][3][6] Suspension rules →

Will a school bus ticket raise your insurance in Texas?

Probably, once it is on your record. Insurers rate a school bus ticket as a moving violation. In Texas one speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium about 20% on average[1], or about $1,778 over three years. A school bus ticket usually lands in the same range.

Estimate based on the state's speeding average, not a quote.

How long do you have to respond to a school bus ticket in Texas?

  1. Date on noticePay or respondset by the court[13][4]
    Details

    Appear or answer (plead, pay, or request a course) by the date on your citation. If you miss it: Missing it can lead to a warrant, a separate misdemeanor for violating your written promise to appear, and a hold on renewing your license (ch. 706).

  2. 5daysAsk for a new trialfrom conviction[3]
    Details

    Motion for new trial

  3. 10daysLast day to appealfrom conviction[3]
    Details

    Appeal to county court (file appeal bond). If you miss it: If the bond is not filed in time, the case goes back for execution of the sentence.

  4. 15daysAsk for a suspension hearingfrom the notice date[1]
    Details

    Request a hearing on a DPS suspension (e.g., habitual violator). If you miss it: Without a hearing request, the suspension takes effect on the 40th day after notice and lasts 90 days.

Can you keep a school bus ticket off your Texas record?

Every way to handle a Texas ticket, from paying to contesting →

School bus tickets in other states →

What else do people ask?

How much is a school bus ticket in Texas?

It depends on the court. Published amounts: Austin Municipal Court $887, Tarrant County at least $884, Williamson County $635–$884, Fort Worth Municipal Court $663.

Will a school bus ticket raise my insurance in Texas?

Probably, if it goes on your record. Insurers rate it as a moving violation. In Texas a speeding ticket raised full-coverage premiums about 20% on average (ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026), and a school bus ticket tends to land in the same range.

Does a school bus ticket add points in Texas?

No points. DPS counts convictions for moving violations: 4 or more convictions from different incidents in 12 consecutive months, or 7 or more in 24 months, makes you a 'habitual violator' and DPS must suspend your license (Transp. Code §521.292(a)(3), (b)). Moving violations from any state or Canadian province count. Seat-belt violations and certain size/weight offenses do not count. Under 18: 2 or more moving-violation convictions within 12 months is grounds for suspension. A ticket dismissed after a driving safety course or deferred disposition is not a conviction and does not count (CCP Arts. 45A.305(b), 45A.357(a)). DPS waived all existing DRP surcharge assessments and DRP suspensions on Sept. 1, 2019.

Sources

Texas law and DMV sources (8)
  1. Tex. Transp. Code ch. 521 (Driver's Licenses), §§521.292-521.298, Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes).
  2. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. ch. 45A (Justice and Municipal Courts), Subch. E (appeal), G (deferred disposition, Arts. 45A.301-45A.307), H (driving safety course dismissal, Arts. 45A.351-45A.359), Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes).
  3. Tex. Transp. Code ch. 706 (Denial of Renewal of License for Failure to Appear), Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes).
  4. Texas DPS: Driver Responsibility Program Repealed, Texas Department of Public Safety.
  5. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 102.014 (Child safety fund fines), Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes).
  6. Tex. Transp. Code ch. 545, §§545.066, 545.401, 545.413, 545.425, 545.4251, Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes).
  7. Tex. Transp. Code ch. 543, §§543.006, 543.009 (notice to appear, promise to appear), Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes).
  8. TDLR: Taking a Driving Safety Course, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Insurance sources (4)
  1. State of Auto Insurance in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  2. Car Insurance Rate Increases with a Speeding Ticket in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  3. How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  4. How Much Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up After a Crash in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).