Bus Safety - L-M Transportation

School Bus Inspections

School bus inspections are required twice each year on every vehicle that is used as a school bus in Iowa. These inspections include our fleet of vans and sedans. These inspections are conducted by the Iowa Department of Education with assistance from the Iowa State Patrol. District Mechanic/School Bus Inspector Joe Funk conducts the inspections in Eastern Iowa.

281—43.30(285) Semiannual inspection. To facilitate the semiannual inspection program, school and school district officials shall send their buses to inspection centers as scheduled. A sufficient number of drivers or other school personnel shall be available at the inspection to operate the equipment for the inspectors. The fee for each vehicle inspected shall be $40 effective July 3, 2013. Effective July 1, 2020,

the fee for each vehicle inspected shall be $50.

[ARC 0767C, IAB 5/29/13, effective 7/3/13; ARC 4636C, IAB 8/28/19, effective 10/2/19]

Loading Zone Safety Procedures

School Bus Facts

Know when to stop or pass a school bus?

Iowa Administrative Code 321.372

"Keep Aware Driving - Youth Need School Safety Act"

3. a. The driver of a vehicle, including the driver of a vehicle operating on a private road or driveway, when meeting a school bus with flashing amber warning lamps shall reduce the vehicle’s speed to not more than twenty miles per hour, and shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop when the school bus stops and the stop signal arm is extended. The vehicle shall remain stopped until the stop signal arm is retracted after which time the driver may proceed with due caution.

3. b. The driver of a vehicle, including the driver of a vehicle operating on a private road or driveway, overtaking a school bus shall not pass a school bus when red or amber warning signal lights are flashing. The driver shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop no closer than fifteen feet from the school bus when it is stopped and the stop arm is extended, and the vehicle shall remain stopped until the stop arm is retracted and the school bus resumes motion.

4. The driver of a vehicle upon a highway providing two or more lanes in each direction need not stop upon meeting a school bus which is traveling in the opposite direction even though the school bus is stopped.

5. a. The driver of a school bus who commits a violation of subsection 1 or 2 is guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation under section 805.8A, subsection 10.

5. b. A person convicted of a violation of subsection 3 is subject to the following: (1) For a first offense under subsection 3, the person is guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable by a fine of at least two hundred fifty dollars but not more than six hundred seventy-five dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or by both. (2) For a second or subsequent offense under subsection 3, the person is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.

Offense	Criminal Citation	Fine	Imprisonment	Driving Privilege Suspension
First offense	Iowa Code 321.372(5)(b)(1) Unlawful passing of school bus first offense, simple misdemeanor	Iowa Code 321.372(5)(b)(1) — At least $250, but not more than $675	The court may order imprisonment not to exceed 30 days in lieu of or in addition to a fine.	The Iowa DOT will impose a 30-day suspension.
Second offense	Iowa Code 321.372(5)(b)(2) Unlawful passing of school bus second or subsequent offense, serious misdemeanor	Iowa Code 903.1(b) — At least $315, but not more than $1,875	The court may also order imprisonment not to exceed one year.	The Iowa DOT will impose a 90-day suspension.
Third and subsequent offenses	Iowa Code 321.372(5)(b)(2) Unlawful passing of school bus, second or subsequent offense, serious misdemeanor	Iowa Code 903.1(b) — At least $315, but not more than $1,875	The court may also order imprisonment not to exceed one year.	The Iowa DOT will impose a 180-day suspension.
Any offense causing serious injury to another person*	Iowa Code 321.482A — Violations resulting in injury or death — additional penalties	Iowa Code 321.482A(1) — a fine of $500	N/A	The court may order the Iowa DOT to suspend the person's driving privileges for a period of 90 days in lieu of or in addition to the fine.
Any offense causing death to another person**	Iowa Code 321.482A — Violations resulting in injury or death — additional penalties	Iowa Code 321.482A(2) — a fine of $1,000	N/A	The court may order the Iowa DOT to suspend the person's driving privileges for a period of 180 days in lieu of or in addition to the fine.

*Although not affected by Kadyn's Law, it is important to remember that offenses that cause unintentional serious injury or death to another person and that are charged as operating while intoxicated (OWI), reckless driving, eluding or attempting to elude a law enforcement vehicle, or drag racing may be charged as homicide or serious injury by vehicle, which are class "B" (OWI causing death), "C" (reckless driving or eluding causing death) or "D" (OWI, reckless driving, or eluding causing serious injury; drag racing causing death) felonies. These felonies carry significant higher penalties and sanctions, including fines of up to $10,000, mandatory restitution of $150,000, mandatory imprisonment of 25 years, and mandatory suspension of driving privileges for six years for a class "B" felony conviction.

** The Iowa DOT also has authority under Iowa Code 321.210 and 761 Iowa Administrative Code to suspend the driving privilege of a person convicted for a moving violation that contributed to a fatal motor vehicle accident for at least 120 days. Typical suspensions under this authority are for a period of one year.