Standards applicable regardless of size or capacity

The identification and equipment standards provided in this part shall apply to all school buses as defined in paragraph (55) of Code Section 40-1-1 regardless of size or capacity. (Ga. L. 1974, p. 633, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 6, § 40.) 40-8-114. Operation of school buses by churches, private schools, and local transit systems; transportation of school children on buses owned or operated by public transit systems. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title to the contrary, churches, private schools, or local transit systems may operate school buses meeting the equipment, color, and marking requirements of Code Sections 40-8-110 through 40-8-112 and 40-8-115 and drivers of such vehicles shall be required to stop as set forth in Code Section 40-6-163. For purposes of this subsection, only churches and private schools are authorized to comply with Code Sections 40-8-110 through 40-8-112, and only local transit systems are authorized to comply with Code Section 40-8-115. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title to the contrary, the requirements relating to buses used for the transportation of school children, which requirements are contained in the following Code sections: 532 40-8-115 (1) Code Section 40-6-160, relating to speed limits; (2) Code Section 40-6-161, relating to headlamps; (3) Code Section 40-6-162, relating to use of visual signals; (4) Code Section 40-6-163, relating to meeting or passing school buses; (5) Code Section 40-8-110, relating to identification and color; (6) Code Section 40-8-111, relating to equipment generally; (7) Code Section 40-8-112, relating to compliance with certain State Board of Education specifications; (8) Code Section 40-8-115, relating to identification and equipment of certain school buses; and (9) Code Section 40-8-220, relating to inspection of school buses, shall not apply to any bus which is owned or operated by a publicly owned and operated transit system and which either transports school children to and from school on regular or scheduled routes with regular fare-paying passengers or which engages in tripper service. (Ga. L. 1974, p. 633, § 1; Ga. L. 1983, p. 633, § 2.) 40-8-115. Identification and equipment of school buses for special school route service. This part shall not prohibit the use of a school bus as defined in paragraph (55) of Code Section 40-1-1 for special school route service, provided it shall meet the following identification and equipment requirements: (1) The bus need not be painted yellow or black; (2) The bus shall be equipped with four hooded or recessed red flasher lights, or four red flasher lights and four amber flasher lights mounted on the same horizontal centerline as the red lights and nearer the centerline. Such amber lights shall be at least two and one-half times brighter than the red lights. The system shall be wired so that the amber signal lights are activated only by manual or foot operation and if activated are automatically deactivated and the red signal lights activated when the bus entrance door is opened; and (3) While transporting children to or from school, the bus shall be equipped with the following temporary signs, located conspicuously on the front and back of such vehicle: (A) The sign on the front shall have the words ‘‘SCHOOL BUS’’ printed in black letters not less than six inches high, on a background of National School Bus Glossy Yellow; and 533 40-8-116 (B) The sign on the rear shall be at least ten square feet in size and shall be painted National School Bus Glossy Yellow and have the words ‘‘SCHOOL BUS’’ printed in black letters not less than eight inches high. (Ga. L. 1974, p. 633, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 6, § 40.)