Ind. Code ch. 20-27-7

Ind. Code ch. 20-27-7
in effect

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-1 Annual inspection of buses

Sec. 1. The state police department shall annually inspect all special purpose buses and school buses, including those operated by a nonpublic school to transport students. The inspection of a school bus must determine whether the school bus complies with the safety requirements prescribed for school bus construction and equipment in the rules of the committee. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-5(a).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-2 Inspection time

Sec. 2. The owner of a school bus or special purpose bus shall present the school bus or special purpose bus for the inspection required under section 1 of this chapter at the date, time, and place designated by the state police department. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-5(b).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-3 Certificate of inspection

Sec. 3. If the inspection required under section 1 of this chapter reveals that a school bus meets all safety requirements, the inspecting officer shall attach to the bus a certificate of inspection and document the certification in the state police department's school bus inspection data base. Except as provided in sections 5 through 7 of this chapter, a certificate of inspection issued under this section is valid until September 30 of the school year following the school year for which the certificate is issued. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-5(c).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.286-2013, SEC.84.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-4 Certificate of inspection display

Sec. 4. A school bus may not be used to transport passengers unless a valid certificate of inspection issued under section 3 of this chapter is displayed as viewed from the outside on the lower left corner of the windshield of the school bus. However, if the left corner position obstructs the school bus driver's view, the inspection sticker may be positioned on the bottom of the windshield so as to minimize the obstruction to the school bus driver's view. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-5(d).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-5 Certificate of inspection upon transfer of ownership

Sec. 5. A school bus that is sold or has the ownership transferred to a new owner must be presented for an inspection under section 2 of this chapter before the school bus may be used to transport passengers. If the school bus meets the requirements specified under section 3 of this chapter, the state police department shall issue a new certificate of inspection for the school bus. A certificate of inspection issued under this section is valid until September 30 of the school year following the school year for which the certificate is issued. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-5(e).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-6 Inspection of buses older than 12 years

Sec. 6. In addition to the inspection required under section 1 of this chapter, a school bus that was manufactured at least twelve (12) years before the year for which a certificate of inspection is being sought must be presented for inspection not less than five (5) months nor more than seven (7) months after the inspection required under section 1 of this chapter is completed. If the school bus meets the requirements specified in section 3 of this chapter, the state police department shall issue a new certificate of inspection for the school bus. A certificate of inspection issued for a school bus described in this section is valid for seven (7) months after the date the certificate is issued. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-5(f).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-7 Certificate of inspection after damage by accident

Sec. 7. If a school bus has received damage in an accident that has put the school bus out of service because of passenger safety concerns, the school bus must be presented for an inspection under section 2 of this chapter before the school bus may be used to transport passengers. If the school bus meets the requirements specified in section 3 of this chapter, the state police department shall issue a new certificate of inspection for the school bus. A certificate of inspection issued under this section is valid until September 30 of the school year following the school year for which the certificate is issued. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-5(g).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-8 Inspection requirements

Sec. 8. The inspection of a special purpose bus shall consist of an inspection to determine the existence and condition of the vehicle's: (1) brakes; (2) lights (headlamps, tail lamps, brake lights, clearance lights, and turn signals); (3) steering and suspension; (4) exhaust systems; (5) general body condition; and (6) tires. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-5(h).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-9 Bus maintenance

Sec. 9. A school bus or special purpose bus must be maintained to meet the minimum standards set forth by the committee when transporting passengers. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-5(i).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-10 Temporary certificate of inspection due to material defect

Sec. 10. If the inspection of a special purpose bus or a school bus performed under this chapter reveals any material defect that renders the school bus unsafe and in noncompliance with any safety requirements established by the committee or with the safety requirements of this chapter, the inspecting officer shall issue a temporary certificate of inspection for the special purpose bus or school bus. The following apply to a temporary certificate of inspection issued under this section: (1) The certificate shall be displayed as viewed from the outside in the lower left corner of the windshield of the special purpose bus or school bus. However, if the left corner position obstructs the driver's view, the temporary certificate of inspection may be positioned on the bottom of the windshield so as to minimize the obstruction to the driver's view. (2) The certificate is valid for thirty (30) days. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-6(a).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-11 Temporary certificate of inspection; repair

Sec. 11. Upon being issued a temporary certificate of inspection under section 10 of this chapter, the owner of a special purpose bus or school bus shall have the special purpose bus or school bus repaired to meet the minimum standards under this chapter. After having the special purpose bus or school bus repaired to meet the minimum standards under this chapter, the owner of the special purpose bus or school bus shall present the special purpose bus or school bus for an inspection under section 2 of this chapter. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-6(b).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-12 Certificate of inspection after repair

Sec. 12. If after being repaired under section 11 of this chapter a special purpose bus or school bus meets the minimum standards under this chapter, the state police department shall issue a certificate of inspection under section 3 of this chapter. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-6(c).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-13 Out-of-service order and certificate; issuance

Sec. 13. If: (1) after being repaired under section 11 of this chapter a special purpose bus or school bus does not meet the minimum standards under this chapter; or (2) a special purpose bus or school bus does not comply with the safety requirements for school bus construction and equipment established by the rules of the committee and the noncompliance is a serious safety critical violation, as determined by the committee; the state police department shall issue an out-of-service order and certificate for the special purpose bus or school bus. The driver of the special purpose bus or school bus at the time of the inspection shall be notified of the out-of-service order and a copy shall be made available on the website of the state police department for the governing body of the school corporation that controls the operation of the special purpose bus or school bus. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-6(d).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.42-2014, SEC.2; P.L.23-2026, SEC.182.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-14 Display of out-of-service certificate

Sec. 14. An out-of-service certificate issued under section 13 of this chapter shall be displayed as viewed from the outside in the lower left corner of the windshield of the special purpose bus or school bus for which the certificate is issued. However, if the left corner position obstructs the driver's view, the out-of-service certificate may be positioned on the bottom of the windshield so as to minimize the obstruction to the driver's view. The out-of-service certificate may be removed only by the state police department following an inspection that verifies that the special purpose bus or school bus meets the minimum standards under this chapter. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-6(e).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-14.5 Prohibition of use of special purpose bus or school bus until defects are corrected

Sec. 14.5. After: (1) an out-of-service order and an out-of-service certificate have been issued under section 13 of this chapter; and (2) the out-of-service certificate has been displayed or positioned as set forth in section 14 of this chapter; the affected special purpose bus or school bus may not be used to transport passengers until all defects have been corrected. As added by P.L.42-2014, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-15 Out-of-service order; appeal

Sec. 15. (a) An out-of-service order may be appealed to the committee not more than five (5) days after service of the order. (b) Not more than ten (10) days after an appeal, the committee shall review the order and decide the matter. (c) The committee may: (1) uphold; (2) modify; or (3) set aside; the order. (d) While an out-of-service order is appealed, the order remains in full force until set aside or modified by the committee. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-7.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-16 Repealed

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-8.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.31-2008, SEC.4. Repealed by P.L.286-2013, SEC.85.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-17 Registration fee

Sec. 17. A school bus driver shall be charged the same annual registration fee for a school bus that is operated under: (1) a transportation contract with a school corporation; or (2) a parents' supplemental transportation contract. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-8.5.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-18 Registration fee exemption

Sec. 18. (a) A school corporation that owns a school bus or a special purpose bus and uses the school bus or special purpose bus to transport students is exempt from the payment of the annual registration fee for the school bus or special purpose bus. On application by a school corporation, the commissioner of motor vehicles shall furnish registration number plates for exempted vehicles without charge. Application for registration of exempted vehicles shall be: (1) made whenever a newly acquired school bus or special purpose bus requires a registration number plate; (2) made whenever a registration number plate is transferred from one (1) school bus or special purpose bus owned by the school corporation to another school bus or special purpose bus owned by the school corporation; (3) made in the name of the school corporation that owns the school bus or special purpose bus to be registered; and (4) signed by the proper official of the school corporation. (b) An owner other than a school corporation that owns a school bus or a special purpose bus and uses the school bus or special purpose bus to transport students is not exempt from annual registration under IC 9-18.1-3 or payment of the annual registration fee for school buses. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-9.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.31-2008, SEC.5; P.L.257-2017, SEC.45.

Ind. Code § 20-27-7-19 Violation

Sec. 19. A person who knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly violates this chapter commits a Class C infraction. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citations: 20-9.1-4-11; 20-9.1-5-22(a).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.231-2005, SEC.38; P.L.174-2021, SEC.18.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026

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