A conviction for which of the following carries the highest number of points?

A conviction for passing a stopped school bus that is unloading children carries the highest number of points due to the significant safety risk and potential for serious consequences involved with this offense. In North Carolina, this violation is considered particularly severe because it directly endangers the lives of children, who are the most vulnerable road users.

The law mandates that when a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and the stop arm extended, all vehicles in both directions must stop, allowing children to safely enter and exit the bus. Failing to adhere to this rule can lead to devastating accidents, which is why the state assigns a large number of points to this infraction. Points are a way for the state to quantify the severity of violations, and heavier penalties are placed on behaviors that pose a heightened risk to public safety.

This recognition of the dangerous implications involved with passing a stopped school bus justifies the point value associated with this conviction, making it the most serious of the options provided.