1. A. Color.

   1. (1) The school bus body, including the hood, cowl, the area above and below the School Bus lettering on the front and rear header, and fenders shall be painted a uniform color, National School Bus Yellow. If the window pilasters are visible after the window is installed they shall also be painted National School Bus Yellow. A chrome or manufacturer's grey grill is acceptable and the roof may be painted white. The front and rear roof caps may not be painted white.
   2. (2) The hood may be painted with nonreflective National School Bus Yellow paint.
   3. (3) Body trim, on the exterior of the body, including the bumper, the emergency door arrow, and the lettering on the front, rear, and both sides of the body, shall be black. Yellow numbers on the front bumper are acceptable.
   4. (4) Rub rails, seat line, and snow rails shall be painted glossy black.
   5. (5) Wheel rims shall be gray, silver, or black, if painted. Wheel rims may be aluminum. Accessories of any type covering axle nuts, wheels, or lug nuts are not permitted.

2. B. The following lettering is required and shall be block type:

   1. (1) Lettering.

      1. (a) The body of the school bus shall bear the words “SCHOOL BUS” in black block letters, 8 inches by 1 inch, on both the front and rear of the body.
      2. (b) The lettering shall be placed as high as possible without impairment of its visibility.
      3. (c) The lettering may be on a reflective area 12 inches by 49 inches.
      4. (d) The 12-inch by 49-inch background area may be reduced in size to conform to the contours of the vehicle.
   2. (2) The words “EMERGENCY DOOR” or “EMERGENCY EXIT” shall be 2 inches high black lettering and shall be applied at the top of, or directly above, the emergency exit door and above the emergency push-out windows on the inside and outside of the vehicle. If the outside areas above the door or the upper door window are not large enough for the words, the words may be placed on the door under the upper window.
   3. (3) Operation of Emergency Door or Exit Latch (6-inch black arrow by 3/4 inch wide indicating direction of release of door or exit, inside and outside).
   4. (4) Identification number (all four sides 6 inches high by 3/4 inch wide visible directly from the front, rear, and each side). Identification number on rear of vehicle shall be located above the rear bumper and below the window line. Temporary signage or numbers shall be placed in the second window on the lower glass on each side of the vehicle.
   5. (5) If applicable, the name of the local school system shall be on both sides of the vehicle, properly centered, in letters 6 inches high by 3/4 inch wide.
   6. (6) Contractors' and private owners' or operators' names to the rear of the entrance door 2-1/2—3 inches high by 1/4—1/2 inch wide in a 16 by 30-inch area. This lettering shall also be on the left side in the same approximate location.

3. C. The following lettering may be used, if required or desired:

   1. (1) ICC number (to rear of entrance door 2 1/2—3 inches high by 1/4—1/2 inch wide);
   2. (2) Address of owner (to rear of entrance door 2 1/2—3 inches high by 1/4—1/2 inch wide);
   3. (3) Telephone number of owner (to rear of entrance door 2 1/2—3 inches high by 1/4—1/2 inch wide);
   4. (4) “STOP ON SIGNAL” when required (4 inches high black lettering below rear window).
4. D. Only signs and lettering approved by State law or regulation and any numbers necessary for identification shall appear on the vehicle. Bumper stickers are not permitted. The fleet number may be on the front bumper. All lettering shall be located according to the diagram and shall be block type.
5. E. A vehicle titled and registered shall comply with all lettering size and location requirements. If buses are repainted, they shall be relettered in compliance with these regulations.
6. F. Lettering shall be painted or applied using vinyl die cut self-adhering letters and numbers.

7. G. “Drug Free School Zone” Lettering.

   1. (1) If desired, “Drug Free School Zone” may be on the exterior of the vehicle.

   2. (2) The lettering shall be:

      1. (a) Located under the first window on the service door side or at another location near the service door approved on each individual bus;
      2. (b) Black, in block letters 2 inches high by 3/8 inch wide.
   3. (3) A decal for the “Drug Free School Zone” may be used provided the background is National School Bus Yellow and the decal is not larger than 8 by 18 inches.

8. H. Yellow Reflective Tape.

   1. (1) Reflective tape at least 1 inch wide and not wider than 6 1/2 inches may be used to form a:

      1. (a) Single horizontal line on each side of the bus immediately below the upper rub rail or at the floor line; or
      2. (b) Rectangular figure on the rear of the bus body.
   2. (2) The vertical lines of the rectangle in §H(1)(b) of this regulation shall be as close to the sides of the bus as possible without extending over the sides of the bus.
   3. (3) The horizontal lines of the rectangle shall consist of one straight line above and near the rear bumper and one straight line at or near the roof line.
9. I. The reflective tape specified in §H of this regulation may be applied in a discontinuous fashion so as not to cover any existing or required lettering.

10. J. Roof Identification Number. Identification numbers on the roof may be used. If used, they shall be:

    1. (1) Located in the most forward section of the roof as possible;
    2. (2) Lettered from the left side to the right side of the bus; and

    3. (3) 18 inches high by 10 inches wide, with a 2-3/4 inch stroke.

       

       

       

Authority: Education Article, §7-808; Transportation Article, §§11-173, 12-104(b), and 25-110; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: February 15, 1973

Regulation .01 adopted effective April 3, 1981 (8:7 Md. R. 643)

Regulations .02—.17 amended effective April 3, 1981 (8:7 Md. R. 643)

Regulations .02—.06, .08—.12, and .14—.17 amended as an emergency provision effective July 6, 1983 (10:15 Md. R. 1342); emergency status extended at 10:22 Md. R. 1964 and 11:4 Md. R. 313

Regulations .03B, .04B, .05B, .06, .08, .09B, .10B, .11, .12, .14B, .15B, .16B, and .17A, B amended effective June 18, 1984 (11:12 Md. R. 1063)

Regulation .14B amended effective August 2, 1982 (9:15 Md. R. 1515)

Regulation .18 adopted effective June 18, 1984 (11:12 Md. R. 1063) (Originally adopted as Regulation .17C; recodified as Regulation .18)

Regulations .01—.18 repealed effective June 1, 1987 (14:11 Md. R. 1261)

Annotation: Various provisions of COMAR 11.19.02 cited in Attorney General

Opinion No. 83-042 (September 28, 1983), in which a county board of education could include product specifications in a transportation service contract that exceed the requirements set by Motor Vehicle Administration regulations. The specifications may not conflict with, or fall short of, any applicable regulation.

Regulations .01—.38 adopted effective June 1, 1987 (14:11 Md. R. 1261)

Regulation .02D amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557)

Regulation .03 amended effective April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)

Regulation .03D amended effective June 19, 1995 (22:12 Md. R. 902)

Regulation .03E amended effective January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .04C amended effective January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795); October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .05 amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557); January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .05H amended effective October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .06 amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557); January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .06D amended effective April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687); April 10, 1995 (22:7 Md. R. 537)

Regulation .06E amended effective October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .07C, E amended effective January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .07C, F amended effective October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .10 amended effective October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .10Q amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557)

Regulation .11A amended effective January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .13C adopted effective April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)

Regulation .14C amended effective October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .16 amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557); January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .16G amended effective April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)

Regulation .16-1 adopted effective January 15, 1996 (23:1 Md. R. 29)

Regulation .17A, J amended effective January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulations .18 amended effective January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795); October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .19 amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557); January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .20 amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557); January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .20B amended effective July 18, 1994 (21:1 Md. R. 1230)

Regulation .20G adopted effective April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)

Regulation .20H—J adopted effective July 18, 1994 (21:14 Md. R. 1230)

Regulation .21C, E, F, M amended effective January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .23E amended effective January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .24 amended effective April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)

Regulation .25A, B, D amended effective January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .25B amended and E adopted effective April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)

Regulation .26 amended effective October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .27 amended effective April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)

Regulation .27G amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557)

Regulation .28D amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557); January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795); October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .29 amended effective January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .29D adopted effective April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)

Regulation .29E, F adopted effective October 10, 1994 (21:20 Md. R. 1733)

Regulation .31 amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557); January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795); April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687); October 10, 1994 (21:20 Md. R. 1733)

Regulation .32 amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557); January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795); April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)

Regulation .32C amended effective October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .34-1 adopted effective October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .37D amended effective October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1425)

Regulation .37E amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557)

Regulation .37F amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557); April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)

Regulation .38 amended effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1557); January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2795)

Regulation .38B amended effective April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)

Chapter revised effective December 15, 1997 (24:25 Md. R. 1719)

Chapter revised effective April 2, 2001 (28:6 Md. R. 621)

Regulation .04B amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .06A amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .16B, K amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .17H, I amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .18 amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .20A amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .20K adopted effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .21F, J, M amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .29B amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .31A amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .32A, C amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .37E amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .38B amended effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Regulation .41F adopted effective June 20, 2005 (32:12 Md. R. 1047)

Chapter revised effective July 12, 2010 (37:14 Md. R. 939)

Regulation .01-1B amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .04B amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .07A, C amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .14A amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .20 amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .20J amended effective March 3, 2014 (41:4 Md. R. 302)

Regulation .21 amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .24 amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .26B amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .28 amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .29B amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .31 amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .32 amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)

Regulation .32A amended effective March 3, 2014 (41:4 Md. R. 302)

Regulation .32A, B amended effective March 28, 2016 (43:6 Md. R. 410)

Regulation .33B amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 20)