Section 300.61. Signs and lettering.

 

(1)  Only signs and lettering approved by state law or rule shall appear on or in the bus.

(2)  The body shall bear words "School Bus" in black letters at least 8 inches high and one-inch stroke on both front and rear or on yellow signs attached thereto. The lettering shall be placed above the rear window and the front windshield. This lettering shall only appear on buses painted the yellow and black school bus colors and meeting all the requirements of this chapter.

(3)  Each school bus painted the yellow and black color scheme shall have a fleet number consisting of no more than 4 digits. The fleet number shall appear on the front and the rear of the bus. Additional fleet number locations may be utilized at the owner's option.

(4)  Fleet numbers shall be no less than 3 inches nor more than 6 inches high with a 1 ⁄ 2 inch brush stroke.

(5)  Fleet numbers are prohibited in the black area around the alternately flashing red lights.

(6)  The name and address (and telephone number, if desired) of the owner or operator shall be displayed below the window line in the panel to the rear of, and as close as possible to, the service door in letters not less than 2 inches high nor more than 3 inches high by 1 ⁄ 4  inch stroke. If desired, this marking may also be painted on the left side of the bus below the driver's window. Owner's decals may be used to comply with this subsection if the decals do not violate other provisions of this section.

(7)  The name of the school bus firm may appear on the sides of the bus between the seat line rub rail and the bottom window line in contrasting yellow or black letters not more than 10 inches high. The owner's name may also appear on the rear bumper in school bus yellow. The lettering may not exceed 6 inches in height with a 1 ⁄ 2 inch brush stroke. These options do not relieve the owner or operator from the requirements of sub. (6) .

(8)  The vehicle's registration card or a photocopy of the card shall be displayed in the driver's compartment and shall be mounted in a holder so the card can be read without removal. The passenger capacity shall appear on the inside of the bus above the front windshield so it can be easily read. It shall indicate the number of seated passengers that may legally be transported. Each wheelchair position shall be counted as a seated passenger.

(9)  Each school bus with an emergency exit shall have the exit identified as required in s. Trans 300.39 .

(9m)  On or after August 1, 2016, each school bus equipped with an eight light warning system shall have contrasting black lettering indicating the word "STOP" centered on the rear emergency door panel in 8 x 1 inch minimum letters with the words "ON FLASHING RED" directly below and centered in 4 ½ x 1 ⁄ 2 inch minimum letters. When a rear emergency door is not present this lettering shall be placed in a visible location on the rear of the school bus body as close to the centerline as practicable. This lettering may be reflective material or have a reflective background. An optional driver alert message board may be used in lieu of the required lettering if utilizing a high intensity or LED lights that flash similar cautionary messages in two inch high minimum letters. Amber cautionary messages may flash when the hazard lights or amber warning lights are activated and a red warning message, similar to the required lettering, shall flash when the red warning lights are activated.

(10)  The following signs are the only other decals, stickers, or lettering that may appear on the bus:

(a) No smoking, eating or drinking, (maximum 2-inch high letters).

(b) Any signs required by the federal bureau of motor carrier safety or national highway traffic safety administration.

(c) Identification as to location of emergency equipment.

(d) Seat belt use required in this vehicle.

(e) A seating chart, which shall not exceed a maximum size of 8 ½ x 11 inches. Numbers designating rows may be placed above the windows on both sides. They shall be black, no taller than 2 inches. They shall be permanent and legible by either painting or decal placement. They shall not interfere with emergency door or window markings.

(f) One page of rules pertaining to passenger conduct located in the drivers compartment above the windshield on the front bulkhead, which shall not exceed a maximum of 8 ½ x 11 inches.

(g) Any decal denoting membership in an association dealing with school transportation. The decal shall be placed within 12 inches to the rear of service door and below window line. It may not exceed 36 square inches.

(gm) For vehicles powered by alternative fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas or electric propulsion a designator may be placed on a lower rear corner. This designator may also be on the right side and displayed below the window line in the panel to the rear of, and as close as possible to, the service door. If desired, this designator may also be displayed on the left side, below the driver's window. It may not exceed 64 square inches and shall identify the alternative fuel used. A school bus that is utilizing an alternative fuel may have the manufacturer's logo or background colored green.

(h) A sign or lettering indicating the type of fuel used. This may be an industry recognized symbol as the background containing the appropriate lettering or abbreviation designating the type of fuel.

(i) A placard, decal or other device, not to exceed 90 square inches in size, to identify the bus to the children.

(j) Emergency telephone number may be placed in the driver's compartment in accordance with the following criteria:

1. The device the numbers are displayed on may not exceed 5 inches by 7 inches and may include a current calendar.

2. Acceptable emergency telephone numbers: police, fire, rescue squad, school bus contractor, and school transportation director or administrator.

(k) A legal disclaimer, not to exceed 5 x 7 inches, may be displayed in the drivers compartment to advise passengers that they may be video or audio recorded.

(L) A United States flag decal or magnet, not to exceed 6 inches on any side, may be displayed in the drivers compartment provided it does not interfere with any operating controls or other safety signs and equipment. It shall not include any sayings or slogans and may not be placed on the mirror, visor, windshield or any other window.

(m) A decal, sticker or lettering stating, "DO NOT USE THE LAST TWO SEATS UNLESS BUS IS FULL" , is permissible to be placed on the rear bulkheads. The letters are to be black and are not to exceed 2 inches high. They are to be permanent and legible by either painting or decal placement.

Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326 , eff. 3-1-83; am. (7), cr. (10) (gm), (j), r. (11), Register, February, 1995, No. 470 , eff. 3-1-95; am. (7) and (10) (j) 1., Register, December, 1997, No. 504 , eff. 1-1-98; CR 15-069 : am. (2), (7), cr. (9m), am. (10) (e), (f), r. and recr. (10) (gm), am. (10) (h), cr. (10) (k) to (m); correction in (10) (k) made under s. 35.17 , Stats., Register April 2016 No. 724 , eff. 5-1-16.