Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 220 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › Title 220 CMR 155.00 - Operation Of Motor Vehicles For The Carriage Of Passengers For Hire Under A Certificate Of Public Convenience And Necessity, Charter License, Special Service Or School Service Permit › Section 155.03 - Inspection of Commercial Passenger Motor Vehicles

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
At the beginning of an inspection the Department's inspector
		  shall make a visual check of the vehicle and examine the vehicle for the
		  equipment and features specified in 220 CMR 155.03(1) through (31):
(1)
Outside
		Markings
. Every commercial passenger motor vehicle shall display
		on each side of the bus the name of the owner, trade name, if any, seating
		capacity, and such other designation as may be approved by the Department. The
		bus number shall be displayed on both left and right front sides and in a
		conspicuous location on the rear of the bus, said numbers and lettering to be
		not less than four inches in height and not less than Winch in stroke. A
		vehicle authorized to operate under a lease arrangement shall display the names
		of the lessor and the lessee.
(2)
Reflectors
. Every commercial motor vehicle weighing,
		with its load, more than 12,000 pounds shall be equipped with a red reflector
		at the rear.
(3)
Chock
		Blocks
. Every passenger motor vehicle having a seating capacity of
		more than seven passengers shall be equipped with one pair of adequate safety
		chock blocks.
(4)
Splash Guards
. Every passenger motor vehicle shall be
		equipped with suitable guards which will effectively reduce the spray or
		splash, to the rear, of mud, water, or slush, caused by the rear
		wheels.
(5)
Marker
		Light
. Passenger motor vehicles having a registered carrying
		capacity of three tons or over, shall have an amber light attached to the
		extreme left of the front of the vehicle, so attached and adjusted as to
		indicate the extreme left lateral extension of the vehicle or load.
(6)
Speedometer
.
		Every bus shall be equipped with a speedometer indicating vehicle speed in
		miles per hour, which shall be operative with reasonable accuracy.
(7)
Horn
. Sound horn
		to test for adequate signal. The horn must be securely fastened to the vehicle
		and maintained in accordance with federal or manufacturers
		specifications.
(8)
Warning Devices
. Every commercial passenger motor
		vehicle that is required to have a back-up warning device shall be checked for
		proper operation of said device.
(9)
Bumpers
. The
		existence of broken or bent bumpers, fenders, exterior sheet metal, or
		moldings, having sharp edges or abnormal protrusions extending beyond normal
		vehicle extremities so as to constitute a danger to pedestrians and other motor
		vehicle traffic shall be reason for rejection. The vehicle hood, door(s),
		luggage compartment lid, and battery or engine compartment doors or lids, if so
		equipped, must be capable of being firmly latched.
(10)
Fenders
. Front
		and rear fenders must be in place. Every commercial motor vehicle which is
		equipped with tires which extend beyond the fenders or body of such vehicle
		shall be equipped with flaps or suitable awards to reduce such spray or splash
		to the rear and side.
(11)
Seat Belts
shall be inspected to assure that all are
		maintained in good order. The requirements of
		49
		CFR 393.93 are applicable.
(12)
Brakes
. Each
		motor bus shall have two separate braking systems with independent operations.
		They shall be designed in such a way that failure of any one part of either
		system will not deprive the bus of an effective brake acting on at least two
		wheels. One braking system shall consist of a power brake as provided for in
		M.G.L. c. 90 §, 7, acting on at least four wheels and arranged in such a
		way as to be operated by the foot. It shall be capable of stopping the bus
		within a distance of 25 feet when moving at a speed of '20 miles per hour on a
		dry, level road.
A second braking system shall consist of an emergency brake
		  which shall be capable of stopping a bus within a distance of 60 feet when
		  moving at a speed of 20 miles per hour on a dry, level road. Buses employing a
		  braking system complying with
		  49 CFR 393.41(a), (b) and
		  (c) shall employ a parking brake which will
		  hold a bus stationary headed up or down with a full load on a 20% grade.
(13)
Air
		Equipment
. Every commercial passenger motor vehicle equipped with
		a compressed air tank shall be provided with a safety valve. There shall be a
		distinct and separate visible signal to warn the driver when the air pressure
		in the reservoir reaches a point below the effective working pressure. Said
		tank shall also be equipped with a drain valve to be operated either manually
		or automatically. Alcohol injection systems may be employed.
(14)
Interior
		Lights
. Every commercial passenger motor vehicle with a top shall
		be equipped with electric lights so located as to provide for a well
		distributed illumination of the interior, platform and steps of the bus. Such
		lights shall be kept lighted at all times when the lack of illumination may
		result in danger or discomfort to the passengers.
(15)
Mirrors
. Every
		commercial passenger motor vehicle shall be equipped with exterior rear view
		mirrors which provide the driver with a clear view of the roadway on each side
		and to the rear of the vehicle. It shall also be equipped with an interior rear
		view mirror which shall provide the driver with a clear view of the interior of
		the vehicle. Vehicles used in school bus service shall conform to M.G.L. c. 90,
		§ 7B.
(16)
Sun
		Visors
. Every commercial passenger motor vehicle shall be equipped
		with a device which will protect the eyes of the driver from the direct rays of
		the sun.
(17)
Steps
. The lowest step at the entrance and exit doors
		of a commercial passenger motor vehicle shall not be more than 16 inches from
		the ground when the tires are fully inflated and the bus is unloaded, nor shall
		the height between any two steps be more than 15 inches. All steps shall be
		provided with safety treads of type that will prevent passengers from
		slipping.
(18)
Emergency Exits.
(a)
Emergency Door
. Every commercial passenger motor
		vehicle shall be provided with an emergency door located in the middle of the
		rear of the bus or on the side opposite the receiving door. The emergency door
		shall be easily opened. It shall, unless otherwise authorized by the
		Department, open outward and shall be kept free from obstructions. The words
		"Emergency Door" shall be conspicuously marked on or near this door. Each bus
		designed with transverse seats extending the full width of the body shall be
		provided with a door at each end of said seat. The words "Emergency Door" shall
		be conspicuously marked on or near each door on the left hand side of this type
		vehicle. The minimum clearance of a bus emergency door and approach thereto
		shall be 48 inches from floor of bus and 18 inches wide, and it shall provide
		at least 12 inches floor clearance. Emergency doors shall be identified by a
		red light which shall be lighted as required and readily visible to passengers.
		They shall be equipped with an audible signal that sounds whenever the door is
		opened. Note: If any bus permitted by the Department is equipped with a locking
		device on its emergency door, the locking device shall not be engaged while the
		bus is in motion. This type of bus shall be equipped with an interlocking
		device which will prevent the starting of the engine and the movement of the
		bus while the door is locked.
(b)
Emergency Escape Kick-out Windows
All commercial
		passenger motor vehicles shall have an emergency door at the rear or rear left
		side, or in lieu thereof, shall be provided with emergency escape push-out
		windows. Each window shall be in a form of a parallelogram with dimensions of
		not less than 18 inches by 24 inches, and each shall contain an area of not
		less than 432 square inches. There shall be a sufficient number of such
		push-out or kick-out windows in each vehicle to provide a total escape area
		equivalent to 67 square inches per seat, including the driver's seat. No less
		than 40% of the total escape area shall be on one side of the vehicle.
		Emergency escape kick-out or push-out windows shall be conspicuously marked by
		sign or light and shall always be kept in good working order so that they may
		be readily opened in an emergency. Windows shall not be obstructed by bars or
		other such means located either inside or outside such windows so as to hinder
		escape.