2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC › Chapter 19: OPERATION › Subchapter 4: SCHOOL BUSES › 29-A §2301. Definitions

§2301. Definitions
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
1.  Private school.
"Private school" has the same meaning as in Title 20‑A, section 1, subsection 22.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
1-A.  Allowable alternative vehicle.
"Allowable alternative vehicle" means a vehicle that:
A. Is designed to carry 10 or more people, including the driver;   [PL 2003, c. 293, §1 (NEW).]
B. Meets all the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards of 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 571 or as subsequently amended, that are applicable to school buses, except for those provisions pertaining to lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 571.108 and those provisions pertaining to school bus pedestrian safety devices in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 571.131;   [PL 2003, c. 293, §1 (NEW).]
C. Meets all the provisions of this Title pertaining to school buses, except for section 2302, subsection 1, paragraphs A to E and G and H; section 2304, subsection 1, paragraphs A to C and E; and section 2308; and   [PL 2003, c. 293, §1 (NEW).]
D. Is operated by a full-service transportation provider or urban fixed-route transit provider.   [PL 2003, c. 293, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2003, c. 293, §1 (NEW).]
1-B.  Full service transportation provider.
"Full service transportation provider" has the same meaning as defined in rules adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services pertaining to transportation services for health care providers.
[PL 2003, c. 293, §1 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (REV).]
1-C.  Multifunction school activity bus.
"Multifunction school activity bus" means a noncommercial motor vehicle that:
A. Is designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers including the driver;   [PL 2013, c. 484, §1 (NEW).]
B. Meets all the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards of 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 571, as amended, that are applicable to multifunction school activity buses;   [PL 2013, c. 484, §1 (NEW).]
C. Meets all provisions of this Title pertaining to school buses, except for section 2302, subsection 1, paragraphs A to E and G and H; section 2304; and section 2308;   [PL 2013, c. 484, §1 (NEW).]
D. Is clearly marked with the words "students aboard";   [PL 2013, c. 484, §1 (NEW).]
E. Has all emergency exits clearly marked; and   [PL 2013, c. 484, §1 (NEW).]
F. Is clearly marked with the school administrative unit or school district name.   [PL 2013, c. 484, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2013, c. 484, §1 (NEW).]
1-D.  Extended stop arm.
"Extended stop arm" means a stop arm that when activated extends 3 to 6 feet outward from the left side of a school bus.
[PL 2019, c. 318, §2 (NEW).]
2.  Private school activity bus.
"Private school activity bus" means a privately owned motor vehicle with a carrying capacity of 10 to 15 passengers that is not operated with public funds and that is used by a private school to transport students other than to and from home and school.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
3.  School.
"School," as used in this subchapter, means an institution or facility for the teaching of children or for the custodial care of children, whether public or private, which is regularly attended by such children.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
4.  School-age persons.
"School-age persons" means all children up to the age of 18 years and persons 18 years and older who are enrolled in a state-approved program of primary or secondary education, as defined in Title 20‑A.
[PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. G, §8 (AMD); PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. G, §20 (AFF).]
5.  School bus.
"School bus" means a:
A. School bus CMV; or   [PL 2007, c. 383, §24 (NEW).]
B. School bus non-CMV.   [PL 2007, c. 383, §24 (NEW).]
[PL 2007, c. 383, §24 (AMD).]
5-A.  School bus CMV.
"School bus CMV" means a commercial motor vehicle used to transport preprimary, primary or secondary school students from home to school, from school to home or to and from school-sponsored events. "School bus CMV" does not include a bus used as a common carrier or a private school activity bus.
[PL 2007, c. 383, §25 (NEW).]
5-B.  School bus non-CMV.
"School bus non-CMV" means a noncommercial motor vehicle designed to carry more than 10 passengers, including the driver, but less than 16 passengers, including the driver, and used to transport students from home to school, from school to home or to and from school-related events. "School bus non-CMV" does not include a private motor vehicle used to transport members of the owner's household or a private school activity bus.
[PL 2007, c. 383, §26 (NEW).]
5-C.  School bus crossing arm.
"School bus crossing arm" means a device mounted on the front bumper of a school bus that is no shorter than 70 inches and no longer than the width of the school bus and when activated extends outward in front of the school bus to require students who cross the roadway in front of the school bus to maintain a safe distance in front of the school bus.
[PL 2019, c. 413, §1 (NEW).]
Revisor's Note: Subsection 5-C as enacted by PL 2019, c. 318, §2 is REALLOCATED TO TITLE 29-A, SECTION 2301, SUBSECTION 5-D
5-D.  (REALLOCATED FROM T. 29-A, §2301, sub-§5-C) Stop arm.
"Stop arm" means a device mounted on the left side of a school bus that when activated displays a stop sign to traffic in front of and behind that school bus.
[PL 2019, c. 318, §2 (NEW); RR 2019, c. 1, Pt. A, §35 (RAL).]
6.  Urban fixed-route transit provider.
"Urban fixed-route transit provider" means a transit district or a regional transportation corporation, as defined in Title 30‑A, section 3501, that provides public transportation within one or more municipalities on prescribed routes at prescribed times.
[PL 2003, c. 293, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 395, §G8 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 395, §G20 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 293, §1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 689, §B6 (REV). PL 2005, c. 433, §20 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 433, §28 (AFF). PL 2007, c. 383, §§24-26 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 484, §1 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 318, §2 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 413, §1 (AMD). RR 2019, c. 1, Pt. A, §35 (COR).