Evening star., 1953-08-15
County Law
To Be Asked on
School Buses
Mrs. Werner Hopes
To Tighten Operation
And Inspection Rules

And Inspection Rules
The Montgomery County
Council will be asked Tuesday to
consider local legislation as a
means Of stiffening regulations
governing inspection and opera
ton Of vehicles carrying school,
age children.
Councilwoman Stella B. Wer-
ner said last night she planned
to bring the matter up Tues
day when the council meets in
Rockville. '
A number of area groups have
urged sitter laws as an after
math Of q day-camp bus crash
near Rockville last month in
which one child died and nine
others were injured.
At present, Mrs. Werner
pointed out, day camps are not
licensed in the county. They
operate simply under special
exceptions Of the zoning ordi-
nance.
She said she would urge a
thorough study be made by
County Attorney David Mac
donald as to legal courses open
to the county.
Is for Minimum Age.
One suggestion, she said. would
be that requirements for liz
censes Of day camps as we'll as
for private schools include regu-
lar inspection of vehicles used
to transport children. She also
said regulation of day camps
should include a minimum age
of 18 for bus drivers.
1nadequacy Of area laws deal
ing with operation of vehicles
transporting school-age children
was disclosed August 6 by The
Star.
Mrs. Werner's statements yes
terday were made in an interview
as an aftermath of a county
council request that Arthur E.
Miller, public safety director.
present two resolutions to the
council Tuesday.
Both will be submitted to the
State Association of County
Commissioners when it meets in
Ocean City August $3.50. One
will ask the group to reaffirm
its request to the State Legisla-
ture for a Statewide motor ve-
hicle inspection law.
Sitter Permit Laws.
The other will seek sitter laws
governing various operators per-
mitS issued by the State.
Councilman Lathrop E. Smith
and Mrs. Werner were the prime
movers behind the resolutions.
Mrs. Werner said yesterday
she will continue to press tor
action on a State level. She
added, however, that it appears
doubtful If the matter can be
brought up at the February short
session Of the General Assembly.
The councilwoman said that
either on a local or, State level
she hoped to see the definition
Of "buS" made explicit and
made to include the various We
hicleS that now are carrying
School-age children.
DAY camps and private
schools-although their buses are
not included in the present def
milton of common carrier-cer-
tainly include a transportation
fee hidden in their tuitions," she
said.
"Day-camp vehicles should be
marked School Bus for their
own protection" she said. School
buses have blinking lights on
both the front and rear in Mary
land. All other vehicles must
stop in both directions when the
blinkers are operating while chill
dren are loading or unloading.
Age Waiver Permitted.
Any local legislation, Mrs.
Werner said, on licensing of day
camps should include a provision
that their vehicles be marked the
same as are other school buses.
Provision of the present State
law which permits the director
of motor vehicles to waive the
18-year-old minimum age re-
quirement in the case of school
bus drivers ought to be restudied,
Mrs. Werner said.
She added If a younger man
is permitted to drive school bus
in a rural area, he should have
to take a stiff examination"
Every examination has an
educational value" she said, land
In this case it would point up
the Importance and responsibility
Of having a chauffeur's permit"
Il feel we must follow through
on this problem, even if only on
the county level" Mrs. Werner
added.