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 officers and agents. (Section 1-115.05 of the Code)

"Exempt Time" – The time when a school bus is not being used to transport school children (e.g., weekends, holidays, school not in session).

            "Officer" – An employee of the Illinois Department of Transportation designated as a vehicle inspector or Department management.

            "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 multifunction school-activity bus.  (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 Code.

            "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 to transport students.  Some equipment may be inspected by persons other than the driver.  The inspection consists of checking mechanical and safety equipment on the bus.

            "School Bus Driver Pretrip Inspection Form" or "the 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 equipment that must be inspected by the driver or persons other than the driver (e.g., school bus mechanic).  (See Illustration A)

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

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 2076, effective January 8, 2016)