625 ILCS 5/ Illinois Vehicle Code.

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625 ILCS 5/12-803

(625 ILCS 5/12-803) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-803)

Sec. 12-803.

(a)  Each school bus shall be equipped with a stop signal
arm on the driver's side of the school bus that may be operated either manually
or mechanically. Each school bus stop signal arm shall be an octagon shaped semaphore that conforms to
49 C.F.R. 571.131, "SCHOOL BUS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY DEVICES", S5.1 through S5.5.

(b) Each school bus manufactured prior to September 1, 1992 shall be
equipped with a stop signal arm that conforms to standards promulgated by the
Department.

(c)  A school bus may be equipped with an extension to the required stop arm that partially obstructs the roadway to ensure passenger safety.

(d) A maximum of 2 extensions to the required stop arms may be installed on the driver's side of the school bus.

(e)   In addition to the lighting systems required under Section 12-805, each extension to the required stop arm must be equipped with a system of flashing red lights. The front side  extension to the required stop arm must extend no more than  78 inches, measured from the side of the bus to furthest part of the extension to the required stop arm, and at a height not less than 36 inches from the ground. The rear side extension to the required stop arm must meet the same specification as the front side extension to the required stop arm except that it may not extend more than 32 inches, measured from the side of the bus to the furthest part of the extension to the required stop arm.

(f) No driver of a motor vehicle may make contact with any portion of a stopped school bus, including an extension to the required stop arm, or make contact with a school child within 30 feet of the school bus. A driver of motor vehicle that violates this subsection shall be subject to the penalties under Section 11-1414.

(Source: P.A. 103-404, eff. 7-28-23.)

625 ILCS 5/12-804

(625 ILCS 5/12-804) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-804)

Sec. 12-804.

Other vehicles - Color, stop signal arm and
identification.

No vehicle other than a school bus
shall be identified with the sign "SCHOOL BUS", shall be equipped with a
stop signal arm, shall be equipped with a strobe lamp or shall be equipped
with a warning lamp system as
described in Section 12-805 of this Act.
No commuter van or bus other than a school bus shall be painted national
school bus glossy yellow or a color
that closely resembles national school bus glossy yellow.

(Source: P.A. 81-509; 81-740; 81-1509.)

625 ILCS 5/12-805

(625 ILCS 5/12-805) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-805)

Sec. 12-805.

Special lighting equipment.

Each school bus purchased as a new vehicle after December 31, 1975
shall be equipped with an 8-lamp flashing signal system. Until December
31, 1978, all other school buses shall be equipped with either a 4-lamp
or an 8-lamp flashing signal system.  After December 31, 1978, all school
buses shall be equipped with an 8-lamp flashing signal system.

A 4-lamp flashing signal system shall have 2 alternately flashing red
lamps mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally on the same level
as practicable at the front of the school bus and 2 such lamps mounted
in the same manner at the rear.

An 8-lamp flashing signal system shall have, in addition to a 4-lamp
system, 4 alternately flashing amber lamps. Each amber lamp shall be
mounted next to a red lamp and at the same level but closer to the
centerline of the school bus.

Each signal lamp shall be a sealed beam at least 5 1/2 inches in
diameter and shall have sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet
in normal sunlight. Both the 4-lamp and 8-lamp system shall be actuated
only by means of a manual switch. There shall be a device for indicating
to the driver that the system is operating properly or is inoperative.

A school bus may also be equipped with alternately flashing head
lamps,
which may be operated in conjunction with the 8-lamp flashing signal
system.

(Source: P.A. 93-181, eff. 1-1-04.)

625 ILCS 5/12-806

(625 ILCS 5/12-806) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-806)

Sec. 12-806.

Identification, stop signal arms and special lighting when
not used as a school bus.

(a) Except as provided in Section 12-806a,
whenever a school bus is operated for the purpose of transporting
passengers over 18 years of age other than persons in connection with an activity of the school
or religious organization which owns the school bus or for which the school
bus is operated, the "SCHOOL BUS" signs shall be covered or concealed and
the stop signal arm and flashing signal system shall not be operable
through normal controls.

(b) If a school district, religious organization, vendor of school buses, or school bus company whose main source of income is contracting with a school district or religious organization for the provision of transportation services in connection with the activities of a school district or religious organization, discards through either sale or donation, a school bus to an individual or entity that is not one of the aforementioned entities above, then the recipient of such school bus shall be responsible for immediately removing, covering, or concealing the "SCHOOL BUS" signs and any other insignia or words indicating the vehicle is a school bus, rendering inoperable or removing entirely the stop signal arm and flashing signal system, and painting the school bus a different color from those under Section 12-801 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 100-277, eff. 1-1-18; 100-791, eff. 1-1-19; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)