School Bus Violations

Defendant appealed a trial judge’s decision sustaining a violation of G.L. 1956 § 31-51-2.2 (stopping for school bus required—digital video). A video recording captured Defendant’s vehicle passing a stopped school bus. Defendant argued that the trial judge erred because there was insufficient evidence to support the elements of the charge. To find a motorist guilty, a trial judge must find that (1) the school bus’s red flashing lights were activated, and (2) that the driver did not stop before reaching the bus. Although the record indicated that the bus’s stop sign was out and that Defendant did not stop her car before reaching the bus, there was “no indication that the bus’s flashing red lights were activated before” Defendant’s car reached the bus. As such, the Appeals Panel held that the trial judge erred because there was insufficient evidence offered at trial to support the trial judge’s decision. Accordingly, the charged violation was dismissed.

State of Rhode Island v. Rhonda Alexander, No. T18-0011 (January 18, 2018).pdf