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

(a) The emergency door shall be hinged on the right side if the emergency door is located in the rear end of the school bus and on the front side if the emergency door is located on either side of the school bus. All emergency doors shall open outward and shall be equipped with a…

(a) The service door is the door intended to be used by passengers to enter and exit the school bus. The service door shall be under the control of the driver and shall be designed so as to afford easy release and prevent accidental opening. When a hand lever is used, no parts of…

(a) A school bus may be equipped with a pry bar at least 23 inches in length. If so equipped, it shall be securely mounted in the school bus in a location easily accessible to the driver. (b) Each school bus shall contain at least three reflectorized triangular road-warning devic…

(a) School buses shall be equipped with emergency push-out side exit windows that are vertically hinged on the forward side of the window as follows: 1. A minimum of one emergency push-out exit window per side. i. Emergency push-out side exit windows shall not be placed directly …

(a) School buses may be equipped with an automatic fire suppression system for the engine compartment. If so equipped, the fire suppression system shall be installed in accordance with the fire suppression system manufacturer's installation specifications. A school bus shall not …

(a) A removable first aid kit may be provided. The first aid kit shall be moistureproof and dustproof and shall be mounted in an accessible place in the immediate vicinity of the driver's compartment. If the first aid kit is stored in a storage compartment, the storage compartmen…

(a) The floor in the underseat area, including the tops of the wheelhousing, the driver's compartment, and the toe board, shall be covered with nonskid rubber floor covering or equivalent material having a minimum overall thickness of .125 inch. The toe board floor covering on Ty…

(a) Heaters shall be of a hot water and/or combustion-type. (b) If only one heater is used, it shall be of a fresh air or combination fresh air and recirculating air-type. (c) If more than one heater is used, the additional heater(s) may be of the recirculating air-type or convec…

(a) The words "SCHOOL BUS" shall be applied to the body of a school bus, or on signs attached thereto, in black letters not less than eight inches high on both the front and rear of the school bus between the signal warning lamps, on a background marked with retro-reflective or i…

(a) The minimum clearance of all aisles shall be 12 inches unless otherwise provided in this subchapter. 1. The aisle leading to a service door and a rear emergency door shall be a minimum width of 12 inches. 2. The aisle leading from the center aisle to a side emergency door sha…

The inside body height of a school bus shall be not less than 72 inches measured metal to metal, at any point on the longitudinal centerline from the front vertical bow to the rear vertical bow. The inside body height of a Type A school bus shall be not less than 62 inches measur…

(a) The ceiling and walls of a school bus shall be insulated with fire-resistant material so as to reduce noise and minimize vibration. (b) If floor insulation is used, it shall be five-ply nominal 5/8 inch-thick plywood, and it shall equal or exceed properties of exterior-type s…

(a) The interior of a school bus shall be free of all projections including, but not limited to, luggage racks that may cause injury. An inner lining shall be installed on ceilings and walls. If the ceiling is constructed with lapped joints, the forward panel shall be lapped by t…

(a) Each lamp on the exterior of a school bus shall be marked with the SAE rating for its proper use and shall conform to FMVSS No. 108 (49 CFR 571.108), incorporated herein by reference. 1. Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, for school buses with a June 1993 through Dece…

(a) All metal used in the construction of a school bus body, including items such as structural members, inside and outside panels, door panels, and floor sills, shall be zinc-coated or aluminum-coated or treated by an equivalent process before the school bus is constructed. This…

(a) An interior mirror shall be provided that is either clear view laminated glass or clear view glass bonded to a backing that retains the glass in the event of breakage. The mirror shall have rounded corners and protected edges. Except as otherwise provided for a Type B school …

(a) The chassis frame shall support the rear body cross member. The school bus body shall be attached to the chassis frame at each main floor sill, except where chassis components interfere with such attachment, in such a manner so as to prevent shifting or separation of the scho…

Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, for school buses with a June 1993 through December 2005 chassis manufacture date, the overall length of the bus shall not exceed 40 feet. For school buses with a January 2006 or later chassis manufacture date, the maximum overall length …

The overall width of school buses powered solely by electricity shall not exceed 102 inches, excluding accessories, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:3B-28. The maximum overall width of all other school buses shall not exceed 96 inches, excluding accessories. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20…

(a) Every school bus shall be equipped with reflectors that comply with FMVSS No. 108 (49 CFR § 571.108), incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented, as follows: 1. On the rear: two red reflectors, equally spaced as far from the center as practical and at the s…

(a) An automatic audible back-up warning alarm shall be installed in the area behind the rear axle of the school bus. The back-up warning alarm shall comply with SAE Standard J994 (August 1993), incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented. The back-up warning al…

(a) There shall be one rub rail located on each side of the school bus approximately at seat cushion level that shall extend from the rear side of the service door completely around the school bus body (except the emergency door, the service door, the service compartment, and, on…

(a) When used, a sander shall:1. Be of a hopper cartridge valve-type; 2. Have a metal hopper with all interior surfaces treated to prevent condensation of moisture; 3. Be of at least 100 pound grit capacity; 4. Have a cover on the filler opening of the hopper that screws into pla…

(a) A Type 2 lap/shoulder belt shall be provided for the driver. The assembly shall be equipped with an emergency locking retractor for the continuous belt system. The lap portion of the belt system shall be guided or anchored where practical to prevent the driver from sliding si…

(a) Every seat and restraining barrier shall conform to the requirements of FMVSS No. 222 (49 CFR § 571.222), incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented. (b) Every seat shall have a minimum cushion depth of 15 inches measured from the front of the seatback to t…

A school bus shall be equipped with spray suppressants or mud flaps when the angle formed by the intersection of a line on the level road surface projected rearward from the point where the rearmost tire contacts the ground and a line projected from the point where the rearmost t…

(a) The first step at the service door of Type A, B, and C school buses shall be not less than 10 inches nor more than 14 inches from the ground, based on standard chassis specifications. The first step at the service door of Type D school buses shall be not less than 12 inches n…

(a) Steps shall be covered with a nonskid material. Steps, including the aisle step and the floor line platform area, shall be covered with 3/16 inch rubber floor covering or with other material equal in wear-resistance and abrasion-resistance to top grade rubber. Steps, includin…

If the windshield and/or lamps are not easily accessible from the ground, there shall be at least one folding stirrup step or recessed foothold and suitably located handles on each side of the front of the school bus body. Steps are permitted in or on the front bumper in lieu of …

(a) Every school bus shall be equipped with a stop signal arm on the left side of the school bus body that meets the requirements of FMVSS No. 131 (49 CFR § 571.131), incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented. (b) A stop signal arm shall not be mounted below a…

If tools, tire chains, and/or tow chains are carried on the school bus, a storage container of adequate strength and capacity shall be provided. Such storage container may be located either inside or outside of the passenger compartment. If such storage container is located insid…

(a) A battery shall be furnished by the chassis manufacturer. (b) Except for a battery mounted in the engine compartment, the body manufacturer shall securely attach the battery on a slide-out or swing-out tray in a closed, vented compartment in the body skirt, so that the batter…

Except as otherwise provided for a Type B school bus constructed on a cutaway chassis, every Type B, C, and D school bus shall be equipped with an interior adjustable, transparent sun shield not less than six inches by 30 inches with a finished edge. A Type A school bus and a Typ…

(a) The tailpipe shall be constructed of a corrosion-resistant tubing material at least equal in strength and durability to 16-gauge steel tubing. The tailpipe diameter from the muffler to the end of the tailpipe shall comply with the chassis manufacturer's specifications. (b) Th…

Tow eyes or hooks may be furnished on the rear of the school bus provided that they are attached so that they do not project beyond the rear bumper. Tow eyes or hooks attached to the chassis frame shall be furnished by either the chassis or body manufacturer. The installation sha…

(a) The entire underside of the school bus body, including floor sections, cross members, and side panels below the floor line, may be coated with a rustproofing compound for which the compound manufacturer has issued a notarized certification of compliance to the bus body builde…

(a) The school bus body shall be equipped with a controlled ventilation system of sufficient capacity so as to provide the proper quantity of air under normal operating conditions without the opening of windows except in hot weather. (b) A static-type nonclosable exhaust vent may…

(a) The wheelhousing opening shall allow for easy tire removal and service. (b) The wheelhousing shall be attached to the floor sheets in such a manner so as to prevent any dust, water, or fumes from entering the school bus body. The wheelhousing shall be constructed of at least …

(a) Each full side window shall provide an unobstructed emergency opening at least nine inches high and at least 22 inches wide, obtained by lowering the window. 1. When the body design does not accommodate the installation of a full side window, the window located directly in fr…

A windshield washer system shall be provided. The windshield washer system shall have a pumping mechanism with fluid for washing the windshield. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-50B.47

(a) A windshield wiping system, two-speed or more, shall be provided. (b) The windshield wipers shall be operated by one or more air or electric motors of sufficient power to operate the wipers. If one motor is used, the windshield wipers shall work in tandem to provide a full sw…

(a) All wiring shall conform to SAE Recommended Practice J1292 (October 1981), incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented. Multiplex wiring may be used. (b) Wiring shall be arranged in circuits as required with each circuit protected by a fuse, circuit breaker,…

(a) A school bus shall be equipped with a front and rear bumper. (b) Bumpers shall contain no sharp edges and shall be designed so as to prevent snagging. (c) A front safety shield may be attached directly under the school bus front bumper. The front safety shield shall be constr…

(a) Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:27-7.13, each school bus shall be equipped with a properly designed and installed sensor to determine the presence of person(s) or object(s) located in, but not limited to, the front and back of the school bus. (b) All equipment subject to inspection s…

(a) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, for school buses with a June 1993 through December 2005 chassis manufacture date, the school bus body shall be painted National School Bus Yellow. For school buses with a January 2006 or later chassis manufacture date, the school bus…

(a) School buses may be equipped with an electronic voice communication system. (b) A public address sound system with an interior flush-mounted speaker(s) and an exterior speaker(s) may be installed. (c) GPS monitors, transponders and similar devices may be used in a school bus;…

(a) The school bus shall be constructed of prime commercial quality steel or other metal or material with strength at least equivalent to all-steel as certified by the body manufacturer. (b) The construction shall provide a dustproof and watertight unit and the exterior shall be …