Section 458.1020  Definitions

            "Code" – The Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5].

            "Department" – The Department of Transportation of the State of Illinois, acting directly or through its authorized agents or officers.  (Section 13-100 of the Code)

            "Officer" – An employee of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

            "School Bus" – Every motor vehicle, except as provided below, owned or operated by or for any of the following entities for the transportation of persons regularly enrolled as students in grade 12 or below in connection with any activity of such entity:

            Any public or private primary or secondary school;

            Any primary or secondary school operated by a religious institution; or

            Any public, private or religious nursery school.

            This definition shall not include the following:

            A bus operated by a public utility, municipal corporation or common carrier authorized to conduct local or interurban transportation of passengers when such bus is not traveling a specific school bus route but is:

            On a regularly scheduled route for the transportation of other fare paying passengers;

            Furnishing charter service for the transportation of groups on field trips or other special trips or in connection with other special events; or

            Being used for shuttle service between attendance centers or other educational facilities.

            A motor vehicle of the first division.

            A motor vehicle designed for the transportation of not less than 7 nor more than 16 persons that is operated by or for a public or private primary or secondary school, including any primary or secondary school operated by a religious institution, for the purpose of transporting not more than 15 students to and from interscholastic athletic or other interscholastic or school sponsored activities.  (Section 1-182 of the Code.)

            "School Bus Driver" – Any person who is licensed to operate a school bus pursuant to Section 6-106.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5/6-106.1].

            "School Bus Pretrip Inspection" – The inspection performed by a school bus driver on his/her school bus prior to the bus being operated each day.  Some components may be inspected by persons other than the driver.  The inspection consists of checking mechanical and safety items on the bus.

            "School Bus Driver Pretrip Inspection Form" – The form prescribed by the Department to be used by school bus drivers to perform the required pretrip inspection.  The form contains all of the vehicle's components which must be inspected by the driver.  (See Section 458.Illustration A)

            "School Bus Mechanic" – Any person authorized by the school bus owner/operator to make necessary repairs and adjustments on a school bus. May also be responsible for inspecting mechanical components during the pretrip inspection.