OAR 735-100-0020: Bus Safety Lights Used on Church Buses

(1) The Transportation Safety Office of the Department of Transportation (Transportation Safety) adopts the following requirements for eligibility for a permit to allow use of bus safety lights on a church bus, and for the requirements for use of the lights. (2) For purposes of this rule, the following definitions apply: (a) “Church bus” means any bus that is operated by a religious organization while the bus is being used to transport children to and from religious services or an activity or function authorized by the religious organization. (b) “Bus safety lights” means the red and amber alternately flashing lights described in ORS 816.260. (c) “Qualified person” means: (A) Any Department of Education school bus inspector; (B) A currently employed mechanic or inspector of a school district or of a contractor engaged in a school bus fleet operation; (C) A competent mechanic, defined as anyone receiving a substantial portion of their income repairing motor vehicles, and who is currently active at this work; or (D) A person designated for this purpose by Transportation Safety. (3) A church bus will be issued a permit allowing use of bus safety lights upon receipt of a written request submitted to Transportation Safety. The request must be accompanied by a statement signed by a qualified person stating that the vehicle meets the following requirements: (a) That flashing amber and red lights have been installed and operate in accordance with requirements adopted by the Department of Education in OAR 581-053-0240(38)(M); (b) That the vehicle is painted National School Bus Yellow; and (c) That the vehicle is identified in the following manner: (A) The church bus bears the wording “CHURCH BUS” in black letters at least eight inches high and of proportionate width, on both the front and rear of the body. This lettering shall be placed as high on the bus body as possible without impairment of its visibility; and (B) A warning sign, calling attention to the bus safety light stop law is installed on the rear of the bus. The sign shall be centered on the back of the bus and occupy the space, beltline high, directly beneath the upper window in the rear door. Signs on transit type buses shall be in approximately the same area. A warning sign shall consist of decals of white reflectorized letters mounted on a flat black background that is nine inches by 30 inches, with lettering as shown in the following diagram: (4) Operation of church bus flashing lights shall be in accordance with requirements adopted by the Department of Education in OAR 581-053-0015(7) and with ORS 811.515. (5) The bus safety light system must be checked at least once a year by a qualified person as defined in section (2) of this rule. This person must provide the religious organization with a signed statement that the system is operating properly. The religious organization must retain such statements in their records for the vehicle. (6) The approval permit, or a copy may be carried in the bus, to show as verification of Transportation Safety approval to use the light system on the vehicle. (7) A permit issued under this rule is not transferable and is subject to cancellation with 30 days notice if Transportation Safety determines that there is any violation of this rule.