RICHMOND, Va. -- A Richmond judge convicted a member of the Richmond City School Board Tuesday for passing a stopped school bus. Tichi Pinkney Eppes drove around a bus while it was being unloaded at Maymont Elementary School last month, according to police. An officer cited Pinkney Eppes for reckless driving.

Eppes told the court the bus was empty when she passed and she waited behind the empty bus for five minutes after the driver walked a group of children into the school.

The judge told Eppes he saw her point, but argued the General Assembly took the discretion to pass a stopped bus with its flashing lights on out of the driver's hands. Therefore, he said, she broke the law and fined her $25.

The police officer to ticketed Eppes said the school board member did not wait five minutes before passing. Eppes said she planned to appeal the conviction and bring witnesses to her appeal who could corroborate her account.