N.J.A.C. 13:20 — ENFORCEMENT SERVICE (Subchapter 1 to 53C)

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to the brake system: 1. The number of defective brakes is equal to or greater than 20 percent of the brakes on the vehicle, provided, however, that on a three-axle school bus, one defective brake shall constitute an out…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to heater hoses and lines: 1. A heater hose is not supported to protect against excessive wear due to vibration; 2. A heater hose dangles or rubs against the school bus chassis or any other device that has sharp edges; …

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to mirrors: 1. A school bus is not equipped with an interior mirror in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:20-49.1, 49C.24, or 50B.25, whichever is applicable; 2. A school bus is not equipped with exterior mirrors in accordance…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to seat belts: 1. A school bus is not equipped with seat belts in accordance with N.J.S.A. 39:3B-10; 2. A school bus required to be equipped with seat belts in accordance with N.J.S.A. 39:3B-10 is not equipped with seat…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to seats and crash barriers: 1. A school bus is equipped with a seat that is not forward facing; 2. Seat/crash barrier mounting hardware is missing or is not properly installed; 3. A seat leg is not secured to the floor…

(a) The following is the out-of-service criterion pertaining to steps: 1. A school bus is equipped with a grab handle that does not conform to N.J.A.C. 13:20-49.1, 49C.34(e), or 50B.35(e), whichever is applicable. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-31.24 Amended by R.2005 d.24, effec…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to the stop signal arm: 1. A school bus is not equipped with a stop signal arm as required by FMVSS No. 131 (49 CFR § 571.131), incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented; 2. A school bus is equipped …

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to the crossing control arm: 1. A school bus is not equipped with a crossing control arm as required by N.J.S.A. 39:3B-1.1; 2. A school bus is equipped with a crossing control arm that is not mounted in accordance with …

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to windshield wipers: 1. Any power unit has a missing windshield wiper or missing part that renders it ineffective; or 2. Any power unit has an inoperative windshield wiper or damaged part that renders it ineffective. N…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to wiring: 1. Wires passing through metal openings are not protected by grommets; 2. Wires are not fastened securely at intervals of not more than 18 inches; or 3. Wire connectors are exposed. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 1…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to doors on specially equipped school buses: 1. A door is not equipped with a warning device that is actuated when the door is not securely closed and the ignition is in the "on" position; 2. A door is equipped with suc…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to the drive shaft: 1. The drive shaft or a section thereof is not equipped with a metal guard around its circumference; 2. The drive shaft guard is loose; 3. The universal joint is worn, damaged, missing, or corroded; …

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to restraining devices on specially equipped school buses:1. The attachment framework or anchorage devices for seat belts, restraining harnesses, or other restraining devices do not conform to FMVSS No. 209 (49 CFR § 57…

(a) The following is the out-of-service criterion pertaining to wheelchairs and other mobile seating devices on specially equipped school buses: 1. A school bus that has in its passenger compartment an electric-powered wheelchair equipped with liquid electrolyte batteries. Notes …

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to insurance credentials: 1. An insurance identification card is not presented for the school bus; 2. An expired insurance identification card is presented for the school bus; 3. An altered insurance identification card…

When an inspection of a school bus discloses the existence of an out-of-service violation(s), such school bus shall be placed out-of-service by authorized representatives of the Motor Vehicle Commission or by law enforcement authorities. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-31.33 Amend…

(a) The school bus shall be placed out-of-service: 1. Until all school bus out-of-service violations are repaired on-site; or 2. Until the school bus is towed by the operator to a repair facility or maintenance garage and all school bus out-of-service violations are repaired. Not…

The school bus shall not transport passengers until all out-of-service violations are remedied and such remedial action is either certified or approved by representatives of the Motor Vehicle Commission. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-31.35 Amended by R.2006 d.249, effective 7/3/…

Any authorized representative of the Motor Vehicle Commission may direct any school bus operated in this State to proceed immediately to a designated inspection site for inspection; provided, however, this section shall not apply to a school bus with school children on board. Not…

Any authorized representative of the Motor Vehicle Commission may demand and examine the driver's operating credentials. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-31.37 Amended by R.2006 d.249, effective 7/3/2006. See: 38 N.J.R. 386(b), 38 N.J.R. 2835(a). Substituted "Motor Vehicle Commissi…

(a) A driver shall be immediately placed out-of-service and shall not be permitted to continue driving a school bus if such driver: 1. Does not have a commercial driver license (CDL); 2. Has been issued a CDL, but said license is suspended or revoked; 3. Is in possession of an im…

A school bus operator shall annually provide to each driver employed by the operator a notice containing a copy of N.J.A.C. N.J.S.A. 13:20-30 and this subchapter. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-31.39

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to the exhaust system: 1. Any part of the school bus exhaust system is leaking or discharging under the chassis more than six inches forward of the rearmost part of the school bus when powered by a gasoline or diesel en…

No school bus operator shall compel, coerce, or otherwise cause a driver to include false information on a daily school bus inspection report. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-31.40

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to frame members: 1. Any cracked, loose, sagging, or broken frame siderail permitting shifting of the school bus body onto moving parts or any other condition indicating an imminent collapse of the frame; 2. Any cracked…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to the fuel system: 1. A fuel system with a fuel leak at any point, including refrigeration or heater fuel systems; 2. A fuel tank or any part of the fuel system is not properly secured or fastened to the school bus in …

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to lighting devices: 1. A school bus does not have at least one headlight operative on low beam; 2. A school bus does not have at least one steadily burning taillamp on the rear of the vehicle visible from 500 feet; 3. …

(a) The following is the out-of-service criterion pertaining to instruments and the instrument panel: 1. A school bus is equipped with an air or vacuum brake indicator gauge or light that is not in proper operating condition so that such gauge or light does not provide a warning …

(a) The following is the out-of-service criteria pertaining to a power steering system: 1. Any components of the power steering system are not in operating condition; any part is loose or broken; belts are frayed, cracked or slipping; the system leaks; or there is insufficient fl…

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. "Acute area of the windshield glazing" means the rectangular area of the windshield, eight and one-half inches by 11 inches, directly in …

(a) Every vehicle having a windshield shall be equipped with at least one windshield wiper in proper operating condition to provide clear vision for the driver. A motor vehicle manufactured with only one windshield wiper shall have the wiper so located that it cleans the portion …

(a) Clearance lights are lights that show to the front and rear of the vehicle, respectively, mounted on a permanent part of the vehicle as near as practical to the upper left and right extreme edges, so as to indicate the overall width and height of the vehicle. (b) A truck 80 i…

(a) Every motor vehicle, other than a noncommercial motorcycle, shall be equipped with two front and two rear turn signals, except that a passenger vehicle manufactured before July 2, 1954, is not required to be equipped with turn signals. When any motor vehicle, regardless of th…

(a) Reflectors are devices designed and used on vehicles to give an indication to an approaching driver by reflected light. (b) Reflectors shall be of a type approved as meeting the standards of the United States Department of Transportation or, for motor vehicles manufactured pr…

(a) Identification lights are used in groups of three in a horizontal row that show to the front and rear of a motor vehicle, respectively, and have light centers spaced not less than six inches, nor more than 12 inches apart. (b) A truck 80 inches or more in width manufactured a…

(a) Side-marker lights are lights on the left and right sides near the front and rear of a motor vehicle that show to the side and are intended to indicate vehicle length. (b) A truck 80 inches or more in width manufactured after January 1, 1965, shall be equipped with one amber …

(a) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be equipped on the rear with at least two red taillights and at least two red reflectors, one at each side of the vertical centerline at the same level and as far apart as practicable, except that a passenger vehicle manufac…

(a) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be equipped on the rear with at least two stoplights, one at each side of the vertical centerline at the same height and as far apart as practicable, except that a passenger vehicle manufactured before July 2, 1954, may be e…

(a) Wheels shall turn freely and the lateral or radial runout of the rim bead shall not exceed the motor vehicle manufacturer's specifications. (b) Wheels shall be securely mounted and there shall be no visible cracks, elongated bolt holes, broken bolts, missing bolts or nuts, in…

(a) The tread on each tire shall not be less than 2/32 of an inch deep. (b) Many tires have tread depth indicators that become exposed when the tread depth is less than 2/32 of an inch. Tread depth indicators on commercial vehicles shall be inspected and a tire rejected if it is …

(a) This subchapter contains the inspection standards and test procedures to be used by official inspection facilities when inspecting and certifying automobiles, trucks, and buses that have been issued passenger, governmental, no fee, or commercial vehicle license plates by the …

(a) The following shall not be certified: 1. An exhaust system in which the muffler is missing, defective, or not in proper operating condition; 2. An exhaust system if there is evidence of exhaust gas leakage at any point in the system; 3. An exhaust system if there is a muffler…

(a) With respect to each gasoline-fueled or bi-fueled motor vehicle that is presented for inspection, an official inspection facility shall conduct the emission or OBD test(s) specified for such motor vehicle at N.J.A.C. 13:20-43.8 in accordance with the inspection standards and …

OBD inspection equipment shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements and the general instructions for all tests adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection at N.J.A.C. 7:27B-4.2(b) and 5.2. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-32.22 Amended by 48 N.…

(a) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be equipped with at least two headlights at the same level with an equal number on each side of the front of the motor vehicle. Headlights shall emit only a white light and shall be tested for proper operation. (b) Headlight…

(a) A commercial motor vehicle shall not be certified if it is not equipped with at least one rear view mirror. A passenger vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1965, shall be equipped with an interior mirror and an exterior mirror on the driver's side. (b) A commercial motor ve…

(a) All miscellaneous lights used on motor vehicles shall be of a type and color approved as meeting the standards of the Society of Automotive Engineers. The letters "SAE," along with the manufacturer's name and trademark, are often on the lens of such lights. In addition, the l…

(a) Certification of a commercial vehicle shall be refused for any of the following reasons: 1. The wiring is not in proper condition, is improperly installed, or is so located as to cause damage; 2. Any connection that is not secure or shows signs of corrosion; 3. The switches a…

Certification of a commercial vehicle shall not be refused because the headlight beam indicator light is inoperative or does not operate properly; however, the motorist shall be advised to have the defect corrected. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-32.27 Repealed by 48 N.J.R. 810(a…

(a) Certification of a commercial vehicle shall not be refused because of an inoperative turn signal indicator light and/or an inoperative hazard warning signal indicator light; however, the motorist shall be advised to have the defect corrected. (b) If any turn signal indicator …