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An Act To Establish Training Routes for School Bus Drivers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2308, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 183, §13, is further amended to read:
 
2. Stopping.   The operator of a vehicle on a way, in a parking area or on school property, on meeting or overtaking a school bus from either direction when the bus has stopped with its red lights flashing to receive or discharge passengers or for training purposes, shall stop the vehicle before reaching the school bus. The operator may not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or until signaled by the school bus operator to proceed.
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §2308, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 776, §42, is further amended to read:
 
4. Use of flashing red lights restricted.   Except during a driving license examination or as provided in subsection 4-A, a school bus operator may not use the system of flashing lights on a school bus for a purpose other than controlling traffic while stopping to receive or discharge school-age persons.
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §2308, sub-§4-A  is enacted to read:
 
4-A.  School bus operator training.     Notwithstanding any other law, a person who has been issued a school bus instruction permit when accompanied by a licensed school bus operator as provided in section 1304, subsection 4, paragraph C may activate flashing red lights before a stop is made for training purposes without receiving or discharging passengers. This training may take place only on roads with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less and during daylight hours.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows a person who is training to operate a school bus to activate flashing red lights before a stop is made even though no passengers are being picked up or discharged. This training may take place only on roads with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less and during daylight hours.