New Jersey Administrative Code

Any operator who violates any provision of this subchapter may be subject to the suspension or revocation of his or her New Jersey school bus registration privileges. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-30.11 Amended by R.2003 d.36, effective 1/21/2003. See: 34 New Jersey Register 829…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in P.L. 1995, c. 157, diesel-powered school buses registered in New Jersey shall be subject to applicable diesel emission or OBD inspection standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection at N.J.A.C. 7:27-14, an examination of …

(a) Gasoline-powered school buses registered in New Jersey shall be subject to applicable gasoline emission or OBD inspection standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection at N.J.A.C. 7:27-15, an examination of the muffler and emission control apparatus purs…

(a) A person shall not operate a school bus that is registered in this State unless such person has been issued a Commercial Driver License with School Bus Endorsement by the Chief Administrator or, in the case of a nonresident, has been issued a Commercial Driver License with Sc…

An operator shall present each school bus for a semiannual in-terminal inspection by the Motor Vehicle Commission's Inspection Services Bus Unit. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-30.15 New Rule, R.2003 d.36, effective 1/21/2003. See: 34 N.J.R. 829(a), 35 N.J.R. 450(a). Amended by R…

(a) All school buses registered in New Jersey shall be subject to the inspection fees as follows: 1. School bus specification inspection $ 50.00 per vehicle 2. Each semiannual inspection $ 25.00 per vehicle 3. Each reinspection requiring an additional trip by the Motor Vehicle Co…

(a) The following fines shall be assessed against an operator, and with the exception of (a)1 below, to the driver, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 39:3B-22 per violation for the vehicle inspection violations set forth below: 1. Failure to present or make available a school $ 500.00 …

Any fine imposed pursuant to the School Bus Enhanced Safety Inspection Act, P.L. 1999, c. 5, may be collected, with costs, in a summary proceeding pursuant to the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999, N.J.S.A. 2A:58-10 et seq. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-30.18 New Rule, R.2003 d.36…

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter and at N.J.A.C. N.J.S.A. 13:20-31, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. "Accident" means: 1. A collision involving a school bus or vehicle that results in personal injury or d…

(a) Every school bus that is registered in this State shall be systematically inspected and maintained by the operator to insure that such school bus is in safe and proper operating condition. (b) An operator of a school bus shall maintain a systematic inspection and maintenance …

An operator shall not operate or permit or require a driver to operate any school bus determined by the inspection or operation thereof to be in such condition that its operation would be hazardous or likely to result in the breakdown of the vehicle, nor shall any driver operate …

(a) Every State Police officer and every school bus inspector of the Motor Vehicle Commission, at the direction of the Chief Administrator, or at the request of the Office of Student Transportation in the Department of Education, may enter upon and perform inspections of school b…

(a) An operator shall not permit or require a driver to operate, nor shall any driver operate a school bus that has been damaged in an accident or by any other cause until an inspection has been performed by a person qualified to ascertain the nature and extent of the damage and …

(a) Every operator shall require each driver to inspect each school bus the driver will be operating once each workday. Each driver shall prepare a report based on the inspection(s), in writing or via a Commission-approved electronic device. The report shall list any defects or d…

(a) Specific equipment shall be inspected and maintained at least once every three months or as set forth in the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule, whichever occurs first; the results of the inspections shall be reported on the "Quarterly Maintenance Inspection" for…

All equipment subject to inspection shall meet the standards for the applicable date of manufacture now or hereafter prescribed by Federal law or rule, New Jersey statute, or Motor Vehicle Commission rule. A vendor who sells or leases a school bus for the transportation of childr…

(a) This subchapter establishes school bus enhanced safety inspection out-of-service criteria. The out-of-service criteria set forth in this subchapter denote critical school bus vehicle inspection items. (b) The rules set forth in this subchapter are consistent with the Federal …

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to steering wheel free play: 1. When any of the values (movement in inches, centimeters, or degrees) in the chart below are met or exceeded, a school bus shall be placed out-of-service. For power steering systems, the e…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to axle parts/members: 1. Any U-bolt or other spring-to-axle clamp bolt is cracked, broken, loose, missing, or not secured by nut(s); or 2. Any spring hanger or other axle-positioning part is cracked, broken, loose, or …

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to any tire on any steering axle: 1. A front tire with less than 4/32 inch tread when measured in any two adjacent major tread grooves at any location on the tire; 2. A rear tire with less than 2/32 inch tread when meas…

(a) The following is the out-of-service criterion pertaining to rim size: 1. The school bus is equipped with rims of improper size. (b) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to the lock or side ring: 1. Bent, broken, improperly seated, or sprung ring(s); or 2. …

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to the back-up warning alarm: 1. A school bus is not equipped with a back-up warning alarm; or 2. A school bus is equipped with a back-up warning alarm that is not in proper operating condition. Notes N.J. Admin. Code §…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to the battery: 1. The battery is not securely mounted in the space provided; 2. A battery cap is missing; 3. A battery cable is not properly insulated; 4. A battery post or a battery cable end is not secure or reasonab…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to the emergency door: 1. A school bus is equipped with an emergency door that is not in proper operating condition; 2. The emergency door does not conform to the requirements of N.J.A.C. 13:20-49.1, 49C.11(h), or 50B.1…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to the service door: 1. A school bus is equipped with a service door that is not in proper operating condition; 2. The service door does not conform to the requirements of N.J.A.C. 13:20-49.1, 49C.10(a), or 50B.12(a), w…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to emergency exits: 1. A school bus is not equipped with emergency push-out side exit windows or roof safety hatches as required by N.J.A.C. 13:20-49C.12 or 50B.14, whichever is applicable; 2. A school bus is equipped w…

(a) The following are the out-of-service criteria pertaining to fire extinguishers: 1. A school bus is not equipped with a fully-charged fire extinguisher; or 2. A school bus is equipped with a fire extinguisher that does not conform to the requirements of N.J.A.C. 13:20-49.1, 49…

(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…