Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 375 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF DRIVER SERVICES › Chapter 375-5 - DRIVER TRAINING AND DRIVER IMPROVEMENT › Subject 375-5-3 - COMMERCIAL DRIVER TRAINING SCHOOLS › Rule 375-5-3-.11 - Commercial Driver Training School Office Requirements

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) A residence may not be used as the place
				of business for a commercial driver training school.
(2) A commercial driver training school shall
				maintain an office in the following manner:
(a) The license of the school must be
				conspicuously displayed.
(b) The
				school shall permit authorized representatives of the Department to make
				periodic scheduled and unscheduled inspections of all school facilities. During
				such inspection, each owner, partner, associate, corporate director, officer,
				manager, or employee of the school shall cooperate with the Department's
				representatives and upon demand, shall exhibit all records or other documents
				required to be maintained by such school under this Chapter.
(c) The telephone must be used exclusively
				for the operation of the school.
(d) An indoor classroom must be enclosed in
				such a manner that interference by the general public will be minimized.
				Sufficient indoor space must be provided for the purpose of instruction, to
				include individual desks or table with chairs to accommodate students
				comfortably. Classes of instruction are limited to a maximum number of forty
				students per class unless the Department determines that the space is
				inadequate for that number of students. In those situations, the maximum number
				will be calculated on twenty square feet per student with a minimum number of
				fifteen students per class. The maximum number of students per class determined
				by the Department does not supersede the occupancy load or maximum for the
				building determined by the local governing entity (i.e. county or city fire
				marshal, inspector, or agent). A copy of the Certificate of Occupancy must be
				submitted during the certification application process.
(e) Each school shall be inspected by the
				respective municipal or county government to ensure that the facilities of such
				school are in compliance with fire, sanitation, and building requirements in
				force and effect at the time of the commencement of operations of such school
				at such location or with the requirements imposed thereafter in conjunction
				with modifications or improvements previously made to such facilities. Copies
				of such inspection reports shall be made available upon request to the
				Department. In addition, the Department shall inspect the designated office
				space prior to approval of any application submitted to the
				Department.
(f) An employee of the
				school must be available to furnish information of operation or to produce
				necessary records or documents whenever requested by a member of the
				Department.
(g) The business office
				of the school cannot be operated entirely through a telephone answering service
				or telephone answering machine.
(h)
				The school may use the services of an answering service to answer the telephone
				only when the office is unmanned. The owner or operator of a school will be
				permitted to list their residence telephone number in any advertisement or on
				business cards provided such listing specifically states that such number may
				be called after a designated hour.
EXAMPLE:
If the residence telephone number of
				  the owner or operator is 224-4444, the advertisement must read, `Call 244-4444
				  after 6:00 p.m.'
(i) Any
				commercial driver training school may use a telephone number answering service
				in connection with the school; however, such service must be secondary to the
				operation of the school and shall be used only when there is no one in the
				school office to answer the telephone.
(j) An 800 number or other telephone number
				may be answered at the principal office provided it is a toll-free call from
				the county where the classroom is located.
(k) Any school or classroom facility utilized
				for or approved for the purposes of a commercial driver training school shall
				be clean and safe from health hazards such as rodents, pest infestation, and
				mold, and must comply with the requirements set forth by the Americans with
				Disabilities Act of 1990, before a permit is issued. The owner shall certify to
				the Department that the facility complies with the Act and its implementing
				regulations.