Sec. 14-280. Letters and signals to be concealed when not used in transporting children. Signs on other vehicles.
Sec. 14-280. Letters and signals to be concealed when not used in transporting
children. Signs on other vehicles. (a) When used for any purpose other than the transportation of children to and from schools or school activities, private or public camps
or any other activities concerning the transportation of groups of children, all lettering
indicating the identity of school buses shall be covered and the special signals normally
used when so engaged shall be left unused or disconnected. Any student transportation
vehicle when used for the transportation of children to and from private or public camps
or for the transportation exclusively of children and any person or persons having charge
of such children to any activities, except school activities, when engaged in such transportation, may display a sign or signs, as described in subsection (b) of this section.
Any motor vehicle, other than a registered school bus, not owned by a public, private
or religious school, or under contract to such school, when engaged in the transportation
of school children to and from school or school activities, may display a sign or signs,
as described in subsection (b) of this section. Any student transportation vehicle, when
engaged in the transportation of school children to and from school or school activities,
shall display a sign or signs, as described in subsection (b) of this section. Any signs
permitted or required under this section shall be removed or covered when the vehicle
is not being used for the purposes requiring or allowing the use of such signs as specified
in this section.
(b) The sign or signs permitted or required under subsection (a) of this section may
be portable signs securely mounted on the roof or decal or painted signs, either of which
shall be placed at a height of at least four feet and shall display the wording "CARRYING
SCHOOL CHILDREN" in black lettering at least three inches high on yellow background visible to operators of vehicles approaching from front and rear. The words
"Stop" or "Stop on signal" shall not be used. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 establishing
standards for the construction and attachment of such portable signs.
(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall, for a first offense,
be deemed to have committed an infraction, and for each subsequent offense shall be
fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.
(1955, S. 1324d; 1959, P.A. 418, S. 1; P.A. 79-331, S. 1, 2; P.A. 81-172, S. 15; P.A. 82-223, S. 24; P.A. 83-577, S. 29;
P.A. 89-320, S. 5, 12; P.A. 90-112, S. 6, 14.)
History: 1959 act included transportation of children to other than school activities; P.A. 79-331 divided section into
subsections, clarified provisions re use of portable signs and specified wording of signs; P.A. 81-172 allowed for decal or
painted signs on vehicles transporting school children in addition to portable signs mounted on the roof and reduced required
size of lettering "CARRYING SCHOOL CHILDREN" from four to three inches; P.A. 82-223 added Subsec. (c) specifying
the penalties for a first and subsequent violation; P.A. 83-577 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting the provision specifying
the fine for an infraction is not less than $25 nor more than $90; P.A. 89-320 amended Subsec. (b) to require that portable
signs be securely mounted on roof and that commissioner adopt regulations establishing standards for construction and
attachment of portable signs; P.A. 90-112 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute "student transportation vehicle" for reference
to motor vehicle, other than a registered school bus.
See Sec. 14-107 re liability of owner, operator or lessee of vehicle.