1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to traffic regulations; requiring strobe 
  1.3             lights on school buses purchased after December 31, 
  1.4             2000; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 
  1.5             169.442, subdivision 5; and 169.4503, subdivision 16. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 169.442, 
  1.8   subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 5.  [WHITE STROBE LAMPS ON CERTAIN BUSES TRANSPORTING 
  1.10  CHILDREN.] (a) Notwithstanding sections 169.55, subdivision 1; 
  1.11  169.57, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), or other law to the 
  1.12  contrary, a school bus that is (1) subject to and complies with 
  1.13  the equipment requirements of subdivision 1 and section 169.441, 
  1.14  subdivision 1, or a Head Start bus that is not a type III bus 
  1.15  defined in section 169.01, subdivision 6, ~~may~~ and (2) purchased 
  1.16  or manufactured for use in Minnesota after December 31, 2000, 
  1.17  must be equipped with a ~~360-degree, flashing~~ strobe lamp ~~that~~ 
  1.18  ~~emits a white light with a flash rate of 60 to 120 flashes a~~ 
  1.19  ~~minute~~.  The lamp may be used only as provided in this 
  1.20  subdivision.  
  1.21     (b) The strobe lamp must (1) be a 360-degree, flashing 
  1.22  lamp, (2) emit a white light with a flash rate of 60 to 120 
  1.23  flashes per minute, (3) be of a double flash type, (4) be 
  1.24  certified to the commissioner of public safety by the 
  1.25  manufacturer as being weatherproof, and ~~having~~ (5) have a 
  2.1   minimum effective light output of 200 candelas as measured by 
  2.2   the Blondel-Rey formula.  The lamp must be permanently mounted 
  2.3   on the longitudinal center line of the bus roof not less than 
  2.4   two feet nor more than seven feet forward of the rear roof 
  2.5   edge.  It must operate from a separate switch containing an 
  2.6   indicator lamp to show when the strobe lamp is in use.  
  2.7      (c) The strobe lamp may be lighted only when atmospheric 
  2.8   conditions or terrain restrict the visibility of school bus 
  2.9   lamps and signals or Head Start bus lamps and signals so as to 
  2.10  require use of the bright strobe lamp to alert motorists to the 
  2.11  presence of the school bus or Head Start bus.  A strobe lamp may 
  2.12  not be lighted unless the school bus or Head Start bus is 
  2.13  actually being used as a school bus or Head Start bus. 
  2.14     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 169.4503, 
  2.15  subdivision 16, is amended to read: 
  2.16     Subd. 16.  [LAMPS AND SIGNALS.] (a) Each school bus shall 
  2.17  be equipped with a system consisting of four red signal lamps 
  2.18  designed to conform to SAE Standard J887, and four amber signal 
  2.19  lamps designed to that standard, except for color, and except 
  2.20  that their candlepower must be at least 2-1/2 times that 
  2.21  specified for red turn signal lamps.  Both red and amber signal 
  2.22  lamps must be installed in accordance with SAE Standard J887, 
  2.23  except that each amber signal lamp must be located near each red 
  2.24  signal lamp, at the same level, but closer to the centerline of 
  2.25  the bus.  The system must be wired so that the amber signal 
  2.26  lamps are activated only by hand operation, and if activated, 
  2.27  are automatically deactivated and the red signal lamps are 
  2.28  automatically activated when the bus entrance door is opened.  
  2.29  Signal lamps must flash alternately.  Each signal lamp must 
  2.30  flash not less than 60 nor more than 120 flashes per minute.  
  2.31  The "on" period must be long enough to permit filament to come 
  2.32  up to full brightness.  There must be a pilot lamp which goes on 
  2.33  when the respective amber or red system is activated.  The pilot 
  2.34  lamp must either go out or flash at an alternate rate in the 
  2.35  event the system is not functioning normally.  The signal lamp 
  2.36  system must include a closed control box.  The box must be as 
  3.1   small as practical, and must be easily dismounted or partially 
  3.2   disassembled to provide access for maintenance purposes.  The 
  3.3   control panel box shall be arranged such that the momentary 
  3.4   activating switch for the eight-lamp warning system shall be 
  3.5   located on the left, the red (or red and amber) pilot light 
  3.6   shall be located in the middle, and the eight-way master switch 
  3.7   shall be located on the right.  The control box must be securely 
  3.8   mounted to the right of the steering wheel, within easy 
  3.9   unobstructed reach of the driver.  Switches and pilot lamp must 
  3.10  be readily visible to the driver.  The activating switch may be 
  3.11  self-illuminated.  Other warning devices or lamp controls must 
  3.12  not be placed near the lamp control.  The stop arm shall extend 
  3.13  automatically whenever the service entrance door is opened and 
  3.14  the eight-way lights are activated. 
  3.15     (b) ~~If installed,~~ A white flashing strobe shall be 
  3.16  installed on each school bus or Head Start bus described in 
  3.17  section 169.442, subdivision 5, and manufactured or purchased 
  3.18  for use in Minnesota after December 31, 2000.  It must be of a 
  3.19  360-degree, double flash type, have a flash rate of 60 to 120 
  3.20  flashes per minute, and have minimum effective light output of 
  3.21  200 candelas.  No roof hatch can be mounted behind the strobe 
  3.22  light.  A school district may have strobe lights installed on 
  3.23  its type A, B, C, or D school buses or Head Start buses 
  3.24  manufactured or purchased before January 1, 2001. 
  3.25     (c) Type B, C, and D buses shall have an amber clearance 
  3.26  lamp with a minimum of four candlepower mounted on the right 
  3.27  side of the body at approximately seat level rub rail height 
  3.28  just to the rear of the service door and another one at 
  3.29  approximately opposite the driver's seat on the left side.  
  3.30  These lamps are to be connected to operate only with the regular 
  3.31  turn signal lamps. 
  3.32     (d) All lamps on the exterior of the vehicle must conform 
  3.33  with and be installed as required by federal motor vehicle 
  3.34  safety standard number 108, Code of Federal Regulations, title 
  3.35  49, part 571. 
  3.36     (e) A type A, B, C, or D school bus manufactured for use in 
  4.1   Minnesota after December 31, 1994, may not be equipped with red 
  4.2   turn signal lenses on the rear of the bus.