# COMAR Title 11 — Department of Transportation

## Subtitle 19 — Motor Vehicle Administration — School Vehicles

### Chapter 07 — Testing of Equipment on School Vehicles

**Authority:** Transportation Article, §§12-104(b) and 25-110, Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: February 15, 1993 (20:3 Md. R. 260)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01 repealed and new Regulations .01—.07 adopted effective September 9, 1996 (23:18 Md. R. 1318)

#### Regulation .01 Pilot Testing Program.

*COMAR 11.19.07.01*

Notwithstanding the requirements of COMAR 11.19.02 and 11.19.03, the Administration may authorize the testing of equipment that would otherwise not meet the requirements of those chapters.

#### Regulation .02 Definitions.

*COMAR 11.19.07.02*

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

  (1) “Administration” means the Motor Vehicle Administration.

  (2) “Equipment” means those furnishings or apparatus which improve vehicle safety or passenger comfort when installed on a school vehicle after manufacture.

  (3) “Section” means the School Vehicle Safety Section, Division of Driver Licensing and School Vehicle Safety, Motor Vehicle Administration.

#### Regulation .03 Testing Requests.

*COMAR 11.19.07.03*

A. A school bus owner, board of education, or manufacturer shall submit a written request to the Administration for equipment to be tested. The request shall contain:

  (1) The name, manufacturer, and model number of the equipment to be tested;

  (2) The vehicle identification number and name of the owner of the vehicle in which the equipment will be installed;

  (3) A complete set of instructions and diagrams showing how the equipment shall be installed; and

  (4) A list of persons outside the State who may be testing or using the equipment.

B. Approval or Rejection of Testing Request. The Administration shall:

  (1) Issue a written approval or rejection for each test request; and

  (2) Specify a time period for each approved testing request.

#### Regulation .04 Testing of Equipment.

*COMAR 11.19.07.04*

A. Equipment that is prohibited by federal or State law may not be tested.

B. Equipment that may pose a danger to the public may not be tested.

C. Equipment may not be tested on vehicles that are mechanically unfit and unsafe to be operated on the highway.

D. The Administration may place further restrictions on certain equipment, if necessary.

E. Approvals. Equipment may not be installed on a vehicle without the written approval of the:

  (1) Administration; and

  (2) Director of transportation, if the vehicle is operating for a public school system.

#### Regulation .05 Testing Conditions.

*COMAR 11.19.07.05*

A. Vehicles.

  (1) A vehicle being used to test equipment shall be inspected and approved by the Section before the test period begins.

  (2) Testing is limited to the vehicle or vehicles specified in the approval.

B. The Administration may limit the number of units of the same type and manufacturer to be tested.

C. Test Period.

  (1) The Administration may specify test periods of different lengths for different types of equipment.

  (2) The test period shall start immediately after installation of the equipment.

  (3) At or before the end of the test period, the Administration may:

    (a) Extend the test period;

    (b) Approve the equipment being tested for use on school vehicles operating in the State;

    (c) Reject the equipment being tested for use on school vehicles operating in the State;

    (d) Require the owner to remove the equipment being tested from the school vehicle for safety reasons; or

    (e) Allow the equipment being tested to remain on the school vehicle or vehicles approved for the test without approval, as long as the equipment does not pose a danger to the public.

#### Regulation .06 Approval.

*COMAR 11.19.07.06*

If the Administration approves the equipment being tested, the Administration shall propose regulations to authorize the installation of the equipment on school vehicles in the State.

#### Regulation .07 Reports.

*COMAR 11.19.07.07*

A. The school bus owner, board of education, or manufacturer shall submit detailed reports on the performance of the equipment to the Section every 3 months, and shall include in the reports the manufacturer, model, and date of installation of the equipment.

B. In addition to the reports required in §A of this regulation, the Administration may require other reports the Administration may consider necessary.

C. If the vehicle is sold, the seller shall give copies of all reports, certifications, and correspondence concerning the equipment to the purchaser or purchasers of the vehicle.