Arizona Administrative Code › Title 13 - PUBLIC SAFETY › Chapter 13 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SCHOOL BUSES › Article 1 - SCHOOL BUS MINIMUM STANDARDS › Section R13-13-108 - Inspection, Maintenance, and Alterations

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 28, July 12, 2024
A. A school bus shall be inspected by the
				Department before the school bus is introduced into Arizona to transport
				passengers.
1. After inspecting a school bus,
				the Department shall place a decal that contains a number used by the
				Department to identify the school bus above the school bus driver's side window
				in the driver's compartment. This decal shall not be removed from the school
				bus while it is operated in Arizona except by the Department. Before the school
				bus is transferred or retired from service, the school bus owner shall contact
				the Department to have this decal removed.
2. If the Department finds that no major
				defect exists on a school bus, the Department shall place a safety inspection
				decal that contains the month and year of inspection on the right side of the
				centerline of the windshield of the school bus in a position that does not
				interfere with the school bus driver's line of vision.
3. If the Department finds a major defect on
				the school bus, the Department shall place the school bus out of service.
				Before the school bus may be placed back into service, the Department shall
				reinspect the school bus to determine that the major defect has been corrected.
				If the major defect has been corrected, the Department shall place a safety
				inspection decal on the school bus in accordance with subsection
				(A)(2).
4. If the Department finds
				a minor defect on a school bus, the Department shall issue an inspection order,
				but the school bus may be operated to transport passengers while the minor
				defect is being corrected. A copy of the inspection order shall be returned to
				the Department within 15 working days from the date of inspection and shall
				show that the minor defect has been corrected unless, in accordance with the
				provisions of subsection (A)(5), the school bus owner obtains an extension of
				time to correct the minor defect.
5. Upon receipt of a written request from the
				school bus owner, the Department shall grant one or more extensions of time to
				correct a minor defect if:
a. The school bus
				owner submits to the Department written documentation that the:
i. School bus owner's action or inaction did
				not cause or contribute to the delay in completing the repair;
ii. School bus owner has secured a written
				estimated expedited delivery or completion date from the provider of the
				materials or services required to complete the repair; and
iii. School bus owner made reasonable
				attempts to secure the materials or services, or materials or services of
				equivalent quality, at a substantially similar price from alternate sources;
				and
b. The Department
				determines that an extension of time to correct the minor defect will not
				increase the probability of an accident involving the school bus or passengers
				or the risk of injury to the school bus driver or passengers.
6. Each extension of time shall be
				for 60 days or less. The Department shall determine the length of each
				extension of time after giving consideration to the information provided under
				subsection (A)(5)(a). When the minor defect is corrected, the school bus owner
				shall return to the Department a copy of the inspection order issued by the
				Department.
7. If a minor defect on
				a school bus is not corrected within 15 working days or at the end of an
				extension period, if applicable, the Department shall remove the safety
				inspection decal and the school bus shall be placed out of service until
				further inspection by the Department shows that the minor defect is
				corrected.