§ 31-23-53 - School bus public address sound system.
SECTION 31-23-53
§ 31-23-53 School bus public address soundsystem. – (a) Every school bus placed in service shall be equipped with a public addresssound system which shall be audible from a distance of not less than fifty feet(50') and shall have a minimum of one speaker mounted outside the bus and aminimum of one speaker mounted inside the bus. The public address system andthe method of installation shall be approved and certified by the division ofmotor vehicles. This system shall be inspected at all regularly scheduledinspections.
(b) When the driver of the school bus has picked up students,the bus will remain stopped, with red lights flashing, until all students areseated. Prior to any student being permitted to disembark from the bus, thedriver shall look to see that all approaching traffic has stopped and observedthe flashing red signal. After students have disembarked from the bus, thedriver shall allow ample time for the students to clear the bus area beforeclosing the doors and then, after remaining stopped for approximately ten (10)seconds, the driver shall announce through the public address system that thebus will proceed.
(c) The department of elementary and secondary educationshall require a demonstration of the operation of the public address system ateach school. The demonstration shall take place at least two (2) times peryear, one of which shall take place during the month of September.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to schoolbuses used exclusively for the transportation of students receiving specialeducation pursuant to chapter 24 of title 16; provided, the school buseswithout the inside and outside speakers may not be used for students notreceiving special education, except for transportation before or after normalschool hours. This provision shall be limited to secondary education students.