June 1, 2004, Introduced by Reps. Voorhees, Vander Veen, Steil, Huizenga, Koetje, Kooiman and Pappageorge and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
A bill to amend 1990 PA 187, entitled
"The pupil transportation act,"
by amending section 15 and 17 (MCL 257.1815 and 257.1817),
section 17 as amended by 2000 PA 49.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 15. (1) A
school bus shall be equipped with front
2 turn signal lights as
provided by the manufacturer and approved
3 by the department of
state police. These signals shall be
4 independent units
equipped with a 4-way hazard warning switch to
5 cause simultaneous
flashing of turn signal lamps when needed as a
6 vehicular traffic
hazard warning. (2) The location,
number, and
7 color of all exterior lamps and signals on a school bus shall be
8 in conformance with current United States department of
9 transportation, federal
motor carrier vehicle safety
10 regulations , and
with this act where applicable found in 49
1 CFR part 571 and in section 698 of the Michigan vehicle code,
2 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.698.
3 (3) Tail lamps and
signals on a school bus shall be
4 positioned as follows:
5 (a) Two red 7-inch
diameter combination stoptail lamps shall
6 be mounted on the rear
of the school bus at a height of not less
7 than 15 inches or more
than 72 inches above the surface upon
8 which the unloaded bus
rests, and shall be positioned as far
9 apart as practicable.
10 (b) Turn signals
at the rear of a school bus shall be 7
11 inches in diameter
with amber lens and shall be mounted on the
12 same level and
outboard of the stoptail lamp combination unit.
13 Sec. 17. (1) This section applies to school buses
14 manufactured before October 1, 1990 that have not been
15 retrofitted to meet the requirements of section 19.
16 (2) A school bus shall be equipped with signal lights mounted
17 as high and widely spaced laterally as practicable that are
18 capable of displaying to the front 2 overhead alternately
19 flashing red lights located at the same level and to the rear 2
20 overhead alternately flashing red lights located at the same
21 level. These sealed
beam lights shall have sufficient
22 intensity to be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet
23 in normal sunlight.
24 (3) Overhead alternately flashing stoplights shall be
25 operated by a manually operated switch and detached from any
26 other instrument on the bus. A flashing light shall not be
27 connected to the brakes or the service door on school buses
1 manufactured before October 1, 1990. A 3-inch black area shall
2 be provided around sealed
beam flasher lamps front and rear.
3 Lamps indicating alternating flashing light operation shall be
4 visible to the driver when in a normal seated position.
5 (4) Signal lights and stoplights under this section shall be
6 in conformance with current United States department of
7 transportation federal motor vehicle safety regulations found in
8 49 CFR part 571.