Pre-schoolers riding on school "bus" without seats?

L

LukesMom

New member

• Oct 5, 2011

• #1

Hi,

I am not sure who to check with and thought/hoped someone here can help.

I just found out that my daughter's 3 year old class is going on a field trip and that they are riding on a bus. It's not a big bus but a smallish daycare bus. I have no idea if there are seatbelts or not. Of course, I was like, " NO WAY!" I called and talked to one of the Directors and she said that at 3 years of age, they no longer have to be in a carseat on the bus. Really? Who should I contact? State police?

Needless to say, unless she can go on the bus, in her carseat, with me there, too, she won't be riding. I will take her myself.

Thanks!

 

Pixels

New member

• Oct 5, 2011

• #2

What state are you in? Laws vary from state to state.

Is it a 15 passenger van, or is it a short school bus complete with yellow paint and flashing lights?

 

L

LukesMom

New member

• Oct 5, 2011

• #3

I knew I was forgetting an important part here. I'm in Virginia.

No, it's not yellow with the lights. I think it's a van type?? I'm going to talk to the Director when I pick the kids up so I can find out more then. Thanks!

 

Pixels

New member

• Oct 5, 2011

• #4

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1095

E. Nothing in this section shall apply to taxicabs, school buses, executive sedans, or limousines.

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http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-100

"School bus" means any motor vehicle, other than a station wagon, automobile, truck, or commercial bus, which is: (i) designed and used primarily for the transportation of pupils to and from public, private or religious schools, or used for the transportation of the mentally or physically handicapped to and from a sheltered workshop; (ii) painted yellow and bears the words "School Bus" in black letters of a specified size on front and rear; and (iii) is equipped with warning devices prescribed in § 46.2-1090. A yellow school bus may have a white roof provided such vehicle is painted in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Department of Education.

Click to expand...

If it's not yellow, it's not a school bus. If it's not a school bus, child restraints are required, unless they are claiming the vehicle is a taxi cab, executive sedan or limousine.

 

L

LukesMom

New member

• Oct 5, 2011

• #5

Wow. I wonder if I should call licensing. I don't understand how they are doing this. I just know that my Dtr won't be on it.

Thank you so much!

 

urchin_grey

New member

• Oct 5, 2011

• #6

Yeah, that definitely doesn't sound right to me. And even if the law said they didn't need seats, you'd think they'd want to do better than that. Common sense would tell you a 3 year old needs to be in a carseat. Hell, my son rides a full-sized yellow bus and they would have put him in a harnessed carseat regardless of what I would have wanted, due to his small size. And he's 6!

 

L

LukesMom

New member

• Oct 5, 2011

• #7

Yeh, it just seems so "off" to me.

Printed out some of this and headed off to talk to the Director! Thanks for the input.

 

J

jnamommy

New member

• Oct 5, 2011

• #8

If it is just a regular bus, I would be concerned not just about your dd, but other unrestrained kids. If you get them to allow you to use a carseat, but the other kids are not restrained, they pose a projectile danger. They ALL need to be properly restrained.

 

L

LukesMom

New member

• Oct 5, 2011

• #9

I talked to the Director and it turns out that it's been a concern as to whether or not they actually have a "bus." They were told by licensing before that it was a bus and that they could tranport without restraints. It does have shoulder belts. She is going to a meeting next week about it.

I did tell her that my Dtr will be riding with me and she said that most likely, there will be others doing that as well.

Thanks again for all of the info and thoughts!

Oh, and I meant to add that the "bus" is a van in front and then like a converted/larger van in the back. Like a church van.

 

Jennifer mom to my 7

Well-known member

• Oct 6, 2011

• #10

You mean like this?

http://www.turtletop.com/

 

L

LukesMom

New member

• Oct 6, 2011

• #11

Yep, that's it. Does that fall into the bus category?

 

Pixels

New member

• Oct 6, 2011

• #12

Part of your state's definition of "school bus" is that it's painted yellow. Since it's not yellow, it's not a school bus.

 

L

LukesMom

New member

• Oct 6, 2011

• #13

That's what I figured.

I am really curious to find out how this meeting goes next week.

Thanks again.

 

S

SusanMae

Senior Community Member

• Oct 8, 2011

• #14

That's like what my work has. Ours is white with our marketing stuff on it. Our "bus" has lap belts but we don't use them.

We use the Q'vest by Q'straint. So our kids are actually in a 4 pt harness on our bus. Our kids have to be 4 even though the restraints are approved for 1 and 20lbs. They barely fit our kindy kids....so no way would be putting our tiny 3's in them.

Susan