Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-03-03-.04 - POLICY FOR SCHOOL BUS INSPECTION STICKERS

(1) School Bus Inspection Stickers shall consist of different and recognizable bumper and windshield decals as follows:

(a) The School Bus Inspection Sticker shall be affixed to the lower left-hand corner of the front bus bumper upon completion of the inspection on an annual basis. If the front bumper has a surface material that is not conducive to sticker retention, said sticker may be attached to the metal body components located just above the front bumper left side. This sticker will indicate the month and year of said inspection.

(b) Only personnel from the pupil transportation division within the Department have the authority to affix or remove inspection stickers.

(c) Once affixed, a School Bus Inspection Sticker indicates that the bus was determined to be in satisfactory condition at the initial inspection, having no written discrepancies requiring follow-up action.

(d) The Extended Utilization Inspection Sticker shall consist of red letters on a yellow background. This sticker shall indicate the expiration date of said sticker. If the front bumper has a surface material that is not conducive to sticker retention, said sticker may be attached to the metal body components located just above the front bumper left side.

(e) Once affixed, a Temporary Sticker indicates that the bus was determined to need minor repairs, but not considered an immediate threat to the safety of students. However, the minor repairs must be corrected with formal inspection before final approval may be given.

1. School officials shall be given a reasonable period of time to correct deficiencies.

2. A mutual time shall be decided upon by the school official and inspector for the follow-up inspection, not to exceed 30 days from the date of the initial inspection.

3. After completion of the follow-up inspection and provided all identified deficiencies have been corrected, the inspector shall remove the Temporary Sticker and replace with an Annual or Extended Utilization Sticker, whichever is applicable.

4. If the identified deficiencies have not been corrected in a timely manner, the inspector shall remove the Temporary Sticker and affix an Out-Of-Service Sticker in its place.

5. Subsequent follow-up inspection shall be decided upon between the school officials and inspector. Once all identified deficiencies have been corrected, the Out-Of-Service Sticker shall be replaced by an Annual or Extended Utilization Sticker.

6. A Temporary Sticker shall consist of a green sticker 1.5" by 3" placed on the bumper over the left side of the previous School Bus Inspection Sticker.

(f)

1. An Out-Of-Service Sticker declares "the vehicle is not to be used for the transporting of students until removal of this notice by the State Safety Inspector." The international prohibition sign is super-imposed over the word "Students". This sticker shall be placed on the windshield in view of the driver. When it has been determined by the school bus inspector that a bus fails to meet the criteria as outlined in this manual the vehicle will be considered out-of-service.

2. When the noted deficiencies have been corrected, the inspector shall remove the Out-Of-Service Sticker and affix the appropriate Annual or Extended Utilization Sticker in its place.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-03-03-.04

Original rule filed July 20, 1989; effective October 29, 1989. Amendments filed December 3, 2007; effective April 29, 2008. Emergency rule filed November 13, 2009; effective through May 12, 2010. Amendment filed November 13, 2009; effective April 30, 2010. Amendments filed February 13, 2023; effective 5/14/2023.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-3-2009, 4-4-102, 49-6-2102, and 49-6-2109.