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Texas Transportation Code - Section 547.701. Additional Equipment Requirements For School Buses

Legal Research Home > Texas Laws > Transportation Code > Texas Transportation Code - Section 547.701. Additional Equipment Requirements For School Buses

§ 547.701. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL 
BUSES.  (a) A school bus shall be equipped with:
		(1)  a convex mirror or other device that reflects to 
the school bus operator a clear view of the area immediately in 
front of the vehicle that would otherwise be hidden from view;  and
		(2)  signal lamps that:                                                       
			(A)  are mounted as high and as widely spaced 
laterally as practicable;    
			(B)  display four alternately flashing red 
lights, two located on the front at the same level and two located 
on the rear at the same level;  and
			(C)  emit a light visible at a distance of 500 feet 
in normal sunlight.    
	(b)  A school bus may be equipped with:                                        
		(1)  rooftop warning lamps:                                                   
			(A)  that conform to and are placed on the bus in 
accordance with specifications adopted under Section 34.002, 
Education Code;  and
			(B)  that are operated under rules adopted by the 
school district;  and    
		(2)  movable stop arms:                                                       
			(A)  that conform to regulations adopted under 
Section 34.002, Education Code;  and
			(B)  that may be operated only when the bus is 
stopped to load or unload students.
	(c)  When a school bus is being stopped or is stopped on a 
highway to permit students to board or exit the bus, the operator of 
the bus shall activate all flashing warning signal lights and other 
equipment on the bus designed to warn other drivers that the bus is 
stopping to load or unload children.  A person may not operate such 
a light or other equipment except when the bus is being stopped or 
is stopped on a highway to permit students to board or exit the bus.
	(d)  The exterior of a school bus may not bear advertising or 
another paid announcement directed at the public if the advertising 
or announcement distracts from the effectiveness of required safety 
warning equipment.  The department shall adopt rules to implement 
this subsection.  A school bus that violates this section or rules 
adopted under this section shall be placed out of service until it 
complies.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended 
by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1438, § 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 
1999, 76th Leg., ch. 183, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Last modified: August 11, 2007