(a) The driver of a vehicle upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus which has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus when there is in operation on such school bus flashing warning signal lights, as referred to in West Virginia Code 17C-12-8 and such driver shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion, or is signaled by the school bus driver to proceed or the visual signals are no longer actuated. This section applies wherever the school bus is receiving or discharging children, including, but not limited to, any street, highway, parking lot, private road or driveway: provided, that the driver of a vehicle upon a controlled access highway need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus which is on a different roadway or adjacent to such highway and where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway.
(b) Where the actual identity of the operator of a motor vehicle operated in violation of subsection (a) of this section is unknown but the license plate number of the motor vehicle is known, it may be inferred that the operator was an owner or lessee of the motor vehicle for purposes of the probable cause determination. Where there is more than one registered owner or lessee, the inference created by this subsection shall apply to the first listed owner or lessee as found on the motor vehicle registration: Provided, that a person charged with a violation of subsection (a) of this section under the provisions of this subsection where the sole evidence against the owner or lessee is the presence of the vehicle at the scene at the time of the offense shall only be subject to the applicable fine set forth in Section 343.99(b).
(c) Service of process of a complaint issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be effected consistent with West Virginia Rule of Criminal Procedure 4.
(d) Every bus used for the transportation of school children shall bear upon the front and rear thereof a plainly visible sign containing the words "school bus" in letters not less than eight inches in height. When a contract school bus is being operated upon a street or highway for purposes other than the actual transportation of children either to or from school, all markings thereon indicating "school bus" shall be covered or concealed. Any school bus sold or transferred to another owner by a county board of education, agency or individual, shall have all flashing warning lights disconnected and all lettering removed or permanently obscured, except when sold or transferred for the transportation of school children. (WVaC 17C-12-7)