My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: New Hampshire
I was cited for not stopping for a school bus. The bus in question was stopped at a traffic light in the left lane at a busy intersection (behind the officer's unmarked squad car who was first in line in the left lane at the signal light). The bus did not have its flashing yellow or red lights engaged nor its mechanical stop sign deployed, and there were no students disembarking. Also, I was following a line of traffic on the opposite side of the road -- no one else stopped and proceeded through the green light. After returning home with the citation, I looked up the Nashua school bus schedule. There is no scheduled stops between 3:21 and 4:07 in the vicinity of this intersection. I was at this intersection waiting at the traffic light at 3:45 and proceeded through once it turned green at approx 3:48.The officer made a swift u-turn and issued a citation with a time stamp of 3:57pm.
I understand that a bus may arrive early or late at its designated stops, but this bus in the left turning lane behind the officer was waiting at the light along with everyone else at 3:48. I have checked and cross-checked every possible bus stop on this route and nothing matches up. The officer is clearly convinced that the bus behind him had flashing red lights. The bus scenario he witnessed through his rear view mirror was very different than what the oncoming traffic (of approx 6 cars) witnessed directly in front of them. However, the officer felt that there was no danger in pulling a fast 180 u-turn to pull me over.
But, how do you defend such? In the past, I've seen drivers pass right through flashing red lights, children crossing, and bus drivers screaming, but this was definitely not one of those moments. Needless to say, I'm still dumbstruck by the events of that day. I've pleaded not guilty and awaiting my court date.

