Texas Transportation Code 547.701 – Additional Equipment Requirements for School Buses and Other Buses Used to Transport Schoolchildren
(a) A school bus shall be equipped with:
(1) a convex mirror or other device that reflects to the school bus operator a clear view of the area immediately in front of the vehicle that would otherwise be hidden from view; and
(2) signal lamps that:
(A) are mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable;
(B) display four alternately flashing red lights, two located on the front at the same level and two located on the rear at the same level; and
(C) emit a light visible at a distance of 500 feet in normal sunlight.
(b) A school bus may be equipped with:
(1) rooftop warning lamps:
(A) that conform to and are placed on the bus in accordance with specifications adopted under § 34.002, Education Code; and
(B) that are operated under rules adopted by the school district; and
(2) movable stop arms:
(A) that conform to regulations adopted under § 34.002, Education Code; and
(B) that may be operated only when the bus is stopped to load or unload students.
Terms Used In Texas Transportation Code 547.701
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Year: means 12 consecutive months. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(c) When a school bus is being stopped or is stopped on a highway to permit students to board or exit the bus, the operator of the bus shall activate all flashing warning signal lights and other equipment on the bus designed to warn other drivers that the bus is stopping to load or unload children.
(c-1) A person may not operate a light or other equipment described by Subsection (c) except when a school bus is being stopped or is stopped on a highway to:
(1) permit a student to board or exit the bus; or
(2) distribute to a student or the parent or guardian of a student:
(A) food; or
(B) technological equipment for use by the student for educational purposes.
(d) The exterior of a school bus may not bear advertising or another paid announcement directed at the public if the advertising or announcement distracts from the effectiveness of required safety warning equipment. The department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. A school bus that violates this section or rules adopted under this section shall be placed out of service until it complies.
(e) In this subsection, “bus” includes a school bus, school activity bus, multifunction school activity bus, or school-chartered bus. A bus operated by or contracted for use by a school district for the transportation of schoolchildren shall be equipped with a three-point seat belt for each passenger, including the operator. This subsection does not apply to:
(1) a bus purchased by a school district that is a model year 2017 or earlier; or
(2) a bus purchased by a school district that is a model year 2018 or later if the board of trustees for the school district:
(A) determines that the district’s budget does not permit the district to purchase a bus that is equipped with the seat belts required by this subsection; and
(B) votes to approve that determination in a public meeting.