CHAPTER 7. SCHOOL BUS INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION
IC 20-27-7
Chapter 7. School Bus Inspection and Registration
IC 20-27-7-1
Annual inspection of buses
Sec. 1. The state police department shall annually inspect allspecial purpose buses and school buses, including those operated bya nonpublic school to transport students. The inspection of a schoolbus must determine whether the school bus complies with the safetyrequirements prescribed for school bus construction and equipmentin the rules of the committee.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-2
Inspection time
Sec. 2. The owner of a school bus or special purpose bus shallpresent the school bus or special purpose bus for the inspectionrequired under section 1 of this chapter at the date, time, and placedesignated by the state police department.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-3
Certificate of inspection
Sec. 3. If the inspection required under section 1 of this chapterreveals that a school bus meets all safety requirements, the inspectingofficer shall issue to the owner of the school bus a certificate that theschool bus has been inspected and that it complies with the safetyrequirements. Except as provided in sections 5 through 7 of thischapter, a certificate of inspection issued under this section is validuntil September 30 of the school year following the school year forwhich the certificate is issued.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-4
Certificate of inspection display
Sec. 4. A school bus may not be used to transport passengersunless a valid certificate of inspection issued under section 3 of thischapter is displayed as viewed from the outside on the lower leftcorner of the windshield of the school bus. However, if the leftcorner position obstructs the school bus driver's view, the inspectionsticker may be positioned on the bottom of the windshield so as tominimize the obstruction to the school bus driver's view.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-5
Certificate of inspection upon transfer of ownership
Sec. 5. A school bus that is sold or has the ownership transferredto a new owner must be presented for an inspection under section 2of this chapter before the school bus may be used to transportpassengers. If the school bus meets the requirements specified under
section 3 of this chapter, the state police department shall issue a newcertificate of inspection for the school bus. A certificate of inspectionissued under this section is valid until September 30 of the schoolyear following the school year for which the certificate is issued.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-6
Inspection of buses older than 12 years
Sec. 6. In addition to the inspection required under section 1 ofthis chapter, a school bus that was manufactured at least twelve (12)years before the year for which a certificate of inspection is beingsought must be presented for inspection not less than five (5) monthsnor more than seven (7) months after the inspection required undersection 1 of this chapter is completed. If the school bus meets therequirements specified in section 3 of this chapter, the state policedepartment shall issue a new certificate of inspection for the schoolbus. A certificate of inspection issued for a school bus described inthis section is valid for seven (7) months after the date the certificateis issued.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-7
Certificate of inspection after damage by accident
Sec. 7. If a school bus has received damage in an accident that hasput the school bus out of service because of passenger safetyconcerns, the school bus must be presented for an inspection undersection 2 of this chapter before the school bus may be used totransport passengers. If the school bus meets the requirementsspecified in section 3 of this chapter, the state police departmentshall issue a new certificate of inspection for the school bus. Acertificate of inspection issued under this section is valid untilSeptember 30 of the school year following the school year for whichthe certificate is issued.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-8
Inspection requirements
Sec. 8. The inspection of a special purpose bus shall consist of aninspection to determine the existence and condition of the vehicle's:
(1) brakes;
(2) lights (headlamps, tail lamps, brake lights, clearance lights,and turn signals);
(3) steering and suspension;
(4) exhaust systems;
(5) general body condition; and
(6) tires.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-9
Bus maintenance Sec. 9. A school bus or special purpose bus must be maintainedto meet the minimum standards set forth by the committee whentransporting passengers.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-10
Temporary certificate of inspection due to material defect
Sec. 10. If the inspection of a special purpose bus or a school busperformed under this chapter reveals any material defect that rendersthe school bus unsafe and in noncompliance with any safetyrequirements established by the committee or with the safetyrequirements of this chapter, the inspecting officer shall issue atemporary certificate of inspection for the special purpose bus orschool bus. The following apply to a temporary certificate ofinspection issued under this section:
(1) The certificate shall be displayed as viewed from the outsidein the lower left corner of the windshield of the special purposebus or school bus. However, if the left corner position obstructsthe driver's view, the temporary certificate of inspection may bepositioned on the bottom of the windshield so as to minimizethe obstruction to the driver's view.
(2) The certificate is valid for thirty (30) days.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-11
Temporary certificate of inspection; repair
Sec. 11. Upon being issued a temporary certificate of inspectionunder section 10 of this chapter, the owner of a special purpose busor school bus shall have the special purpose bus or school busrepaired to meet the minimum standards under this chapter. Afterhaving the special purpose bus or school bus repaired to meet theminimum standards under this chapter, the owner of the specialpurpose bus or school bus shall present the special purpose bus orschool bus for an inspection under section 2 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-12
Certificate of inspection after repair
Sec. 12. If after being repaired under section 11 of this chapter aspecial purpose bus or school bus meets the minimum standardsunder this chapter, the state police department shall issue a certificateof inspection under section 3 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-13
Out-of-service order and certificate; issuance
Sec. 13. If:
(1) after being repaired under section 11 of this chapter aspecial purpose bus or school bus does not meet the minimumstandards under this chapter; or (2) a special purpose bus or school bus is not repaired to meetthe minimum standards under this chapter;
the state police department shall issue an out-of-service order andcertificate for the special purpose bus or school bus. Eachout-of-service order and certificate shall be served personally on thedriver of the special purpose bus or school bus and a copy shall beforwarded to the governing body of the school corporation thatcontrols the operation of the special purpose bus or school bus. Afteran out-of-service order and certificate have been issued, the affectedspecial purpose bus or school bus may not be used to transportpassengers until all defects have been corrected.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-14
Display of out-of-service certificate
Sec. 14. An out-of-service certificate issued under section 13 ofthis chapter shall be displayed as viewed from the outside in thelower left corner of the windshield of the special purpose bus orschool bus for which the certificate is issued. However, if the leftcorner position obstructs the driver's view, the out-of-servicecertificate may be positioned on the bottom of the windshield so asto minimize the obstruction to the driver's view. The out-of-servicecertificate may be removed only by the state police departmentfollowing an inspection that verifies that the special purpose bus orschool bus meets the minimum standards under this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-15
Out-of-service order; appeal
Sec. 15. (a) An out-of-service order may be appealed to thecommittee not more than five (5) days after service of the order.
(b) Not more than ten (10) days after an appeal, the committeeshall review the order and decide the matter.
(c) The committee may:
(1) uphold;
(2) modify; or
(3) set aside;
the order.
(d) While an out-of-service order is appealed, the order remainsin full force until set aside or modified by the committee.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-16
Registration plate; application
Sec. 16. When the owner of a school bus applies for a registrationplate under IC 9-18-2-7 or IC 9-18-2-8.5, the owner shall submit withthe application a certificate of inspection issued under section 3 ofthis chapter. If the certificate of inspection does not accompany anowner's application, the bureau of motor vehicles may not issue aregistration plate.As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.31-2008, SEC.4.
IC 20-27-7-17
Registration fee
Sec. 17. A school bus driver shall be charged the same annualregistration fee for a school bus that is operated under:
(1) a transportation contract with a school corporation; or
(2) a parents' supplemental transportation contract.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-7-18
Registration fee exemption
Sec. 18. (a) A school corporation that owns a school bus or aspecial purpose bus and uses the school bus or special purpose busto transport students is exempt from the payment of the annualregistration fee for the school bus or special purpose bus. Onapplication by a school corporation, the commissioner of motorvehicles shall furnish registration number plates for exemptedvehicles without charge. Application for registration of exemptedvehicles shall be:
(1) made whenever a newly acquired school bus or specialpurpose bus requires a registration number plate;
(2) made whenever a registration number plate is transferredfrom one (1) school bus or special purpose bus owned by theschool corporation to another school bus or special purpose busowned by the school corporation;
(3) made in the name of the school corporation that owns theschool bus or special purpose bus to be registered; and
(4) signed by the proper official of the school corporation.
(b) An owner other than a school corporation that owns a schoolbus or a special purpose bus and uses the school bus or specialpurpose bus to transport students is not exempt from annualregistration as required under IC 9-18-2-8.5 or payment of the annualregistration fee for school buses.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.31-2008, SEC.5.
IC 20-27-7-19
Violation
Sec. 19. A person who knowingly, intentionally, or recklesslyviolates this chapter commits a Class C misdemeanor.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.231-2005,SEC.38.