Help: Got one ticket for passing school bus

在兩個lane的馬路上， 我和校車是麵對麵開。 我開過時， 校車隻是SLOW DOWN， 還未有take out the STOP sign， 我車子未停， 就開過去了。 Police issued me a ticket for passing school bus unloading, saying the STOP sign was out at the same time when i was passing it.

現在 ticket上有$75BOND， 還要上庭。 請問：

1) 我該如何向法官解釋? When the school bus STOP sign was out, I have already passed it.

2) 還有這種情況會有何種處罰？ 我在網上看到好像是$500， 3 month suspension, 5 points in IL.

I am in Illinois.

先謝各位好心建議！