Wisconsin Legislature: Trans 301.30(3)(b)

(4) Mirrors which are cracked, broken, or clouded shall be replaced.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; am. (1), Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Trans 301.27 Openings.

(1) Every HSV shall have all openings between the engine and passenger compartments adequately sealed to prevent engine fumes from entering the passenger compartment. Every HSV shall have doors which have a weathershield or weatherstrip to prevent drafts, or inclement weather from entering the vehicle.

(2) Every HSV shall be free of rust or rusted areas which could permit the entrance of foreign substance into the interior of the vehicle.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; am. (1), Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Trans 301.28 Rub rails.

(1) Every HSV originally manufactured to federal and state school bus standards with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) There shall be one rub rail located approximately at seat level which shall extend from the rear side of the service door to the rear of the vehicle and one rub rail located on the left side from the front to the rear.

(b) There shall be one rub rail located between the floor line and 9 inches above the floor line. It shall extend over the same longitudinal distance as the upper rub rail, except where it meets the wheel housing, and which may terminate at the radii of the right and left rear corners.

(c) Rub rails shall be constructed of 16 gauge longitudinally corrugated or ribbed steel of at least 4 inch width. Each rub rail flange shall be attached at each body post. Pressed-in or snap-on rails are not permitted.

(2) An HSV with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less is not required to have rub rails.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; am. (1) (intro.) and (2), Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Trans 301.29 Seating.

(1) All seats shall be forward facing and securely fastened to that part or parts of the body which support them. A passenger seat cushion retention system shall be employed to prevent passenger seat cushions from disengaging from seat frames in event of accident.

(2) The top corners and at least 10 inches of the top of the back surface of the seat backs shall be padded sufficiently to reduce the likelihood of injury. Hand holds may be incorporated on a seat back. These holds are exempt from the padding requirement.

(3) For purposes of this subsection, a “foldaway seat” is a single or double seat designed so the seat back folds down or the seat bottom folds up and includes seats where the entire folded assembly may lock securely along the interior wall of the vehicle. Foldaway seats shall comply with the requirements in 49 CFR 571.207. A “flip-up seat” may be used at a side emergency door location. A flip-up seat shall conform to the following requirements:

(a) The automatic flip-up seat shall be designed and constructed to inhibit passenger limbs from becoming lodged between the seat cushion and seat back.

(b) The working mechanism under the seat shall be covered to eliminate any tripping hazard.

(c) The bottom of the flip-up seat shall be covered with sheet metal or other material of equal strength and durability and any sharp edges padded to prevent injury or snagging clothing.

(d) The seat shall be designed and constructed to rise to a vertical position automatically when not occupied.

(4) All passengers aboard an HSV shall be seated in a permanently mounted seat. The department shall interpret the removable seat in a van as being a permanently mounted seat. This subsection does not apply to persons transported in a wheelchair or some other device which would make this provision impractical.

(5) Rear or center facing seats in a station wagon are not permitted.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; am. (2) and (4), r. and recr. (3), cr. (5), Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Trans 301.30 Service door.

(1) Service door shall be located on right side of vehicle.

(2) Service door shall be so designed as to prevent accidental opening.

(3) In a vehicle of more than 10,000 pounds GVWR, the lower as well as upper panels shall be of safety glass as follows:

(a) The bottom of the lower glass panel may not be more than 35 inches from the ground when vehicle is unloaded.

(b) The upper glass shall be hermetically sealed or the vehicle shall be equipped with a defrosting device to assure the driver has a clear view out of the service door glass.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; renum. (1) to be Trans 301.03 (8) and am., renum. (2) to (4) to be (1) to (3) and am. (3), Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Trans 301.31 Steering. All components and linkages for the steering system shall be properly maintained.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82.

Trans 301.32 Steps.

(1) The first step at the service door shall be not more than 18 inches above the ground when the vehicle is empty. The use of a portable step may not be considered in meeting this requirement.

(2) The riser of the upper step at the service door shall be not more than 15 inches.

(3) A grab handle not less than 10 inches in length shall be provided in an unobstructed location inside doorway to assist a person entering or leaving a HSV.

(4) The surface of the steps shall be of nonskid material or construction.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; am. (1), Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Trans 301.33 Suspension system. In addition to conforming to the requirements under 49 CFR 393.207, all suspension parts, including mountings, shackles, U-bolts, airbags and all connecting air lines shall be maintained in good working order.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; r. and recr. Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Trans 301.34 Tires.

(1) The front and rear tires shall have tread depth of at least 2/32 inch around the entire periphery measured at 2 points no less than 15 inches apart in any major tread groove. Vehicles with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds shall have front tires with a minimum of 4/32 inch tread depth and rear tires with a minimum of 2/32 inch tread depth.

(2) An HSV may not be operated with regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires on the front wheels.

(3) An HSV may not be operated with cuts or chunks missing exposing the cord, recaps peeled loose or off, or showing an indication of ply separation.

(4) Tires of different size or ply rating may be used except that all tires on an axle shall be the same size and ply rating.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; am. (2) to (4), Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Trans 301.35 Windows and windshields. Windows and windshields shall conform to the applicable requirements under 49 CFR 393.60, 393.61, 393.62, 393.63 and 571.217 and to the following:

(1) All windows that open shall operate freely. Any side window latches shall be capable of holding the window securely in place in all positions.

(2) All exposed edges shall be banded or ground to eliminate sharp or rough areas.

(3) If an emergency window is originally equipped with an automatically operated, audible signal to indicate to the driver that the window is unlatched when the ignition is in the “on” position, no cut-off may be installed in the audible signal circuit.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; r. and recr. Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Trans 301.36 Windshield wipers and washers.

(1) In addition to the requirements for windshield wipers under 49 CFR 393.78, the windshield wiper system shall have at least 2 speeds or a variable speed motor.

(2) If an HSV is originally equipped with a windshield washer system that provides fluid for the windshield wipers to clean the windshield, the system shall be maintained in operational condition.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; r. and recr. Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Trans 301.37 Wiring. Wiring shall conform to the requirements under 49 CFR 393.27 to 393.29, 393.31 and 393.33.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; r. and recr. Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Subchapter III — Special Equipment Requirements

Trans 301.60 General requirements.

(1) Vehicles used for transporting persons with a disability shall comply with current Wisconsin statutes and rules except for modifications necessary for the installation of special equipment. Such modifications or exceptions are set forth in this section through s. Trans 301.66. In addition, new, used or remanufactured buses and vans placed in operation after February 25, 1992, and used to transport persons with disabilities shall comply with all requirements in 36 CFR 1192, subparts A and B.

(2) Any HSV used for transporting persons with a disability in wheelchairs shall be equipped with a side ramp or a lift located on the right side of the body. The side ramp or lift may not be attached to the exterior of the body, but shall be completely contained and securely fastened within the perimeter of the vehicle body when not in operation. An HSV equipped with a ramp or a lift using the HSV rear door may not be used to load or discharge persons on a highway as defined by s. 340.01 (22), Stats., or where otherwise prohibited. An HSV need not be equipped with a side ramp or lift located on the right side of the body.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; emerg. am. (2), eff. 6-29-83; am. (2), Register, December, 1983, No. 336, eff. 1-1-84; am. Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97; CR 22-048: am. (1) Register July 2023 No. 811, eff. 8-1-23.

Trans 301.61 Special service opening.

(1) There shall be an enclosed door opening located on the right side of the HSV and far enough to the rear so that any forward mounted door when fully opened may not obstruct or interfere with the normal operation of the regular service door.

(2) A device shall be provided to hold doors in a wide open position of at least 90°.

(3) Door materials and structural strength shall be equivalent to conventional service and emergency doors.

(4) Each door shall have a glass window meeting the requirements of s. Trans 301.35.

(5) The door shall be equipped with a device that shall actuate an audible or visual signal located in the driver’s compartment when door is not securely closed and latched and may deactivate when door is fully opened. This subsection shall be applicable to vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1982.

(6) Door panels shall enclose the complete opening in the body made necessary by the installation of a side ramp or power lift.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; am. (1), (5) and (6), Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97.

Trans 301.62 Power lift.

(1) The lifting mechanism shall have a minimum capacity of 700 pounds.

(2) All power lift mechanisms shall be enclosed.

(3) Power lift may be mounted to chassis frame.

(4) Lift platform edges shall be designed to prevent wheelchairs or attendant’s feet from becoming entangled during raising and lowering process.

(5) The platform floor surface shall be of nonskid material.

(6) The platform shall lock mechanically when in the stored position. A power lift designed to remain in a rigid position with the power off is exempt from having a mechanical lock. The intent of this subsection is to prevent a lift from having any movement while the vehicle is in motion.

(7) Up and down limits shall be controlled by limit switch or by-pass valve. A lift with gravity lowering capabilities is exempt from having a by-pass valve.

(8) Positioning power lift shall be controlled by switches which give the operator instant and positive control to move, stop, or reverse the lift travel at will.

(9) With the exception of floor molding, no metal screws are to be used in fabrication of platform assembly.

(10) The lift control shall be interlocked with the vehicle brakes, transmission or door, or shall provide other appropriate mechanisms or systems, to ensure that the vehicle cannot be moved when the lift is not stowed and so the lift cannot be deployed unless the interlocks or systems are engaged.

(11) New, used or remanufactured buses and vans placed in operation after February 25, 1992, and used to transport persons with physical disabilities shall comply with the requirements found in 36 CFR 1192.21 and 1192.23.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; am. (2), (5) and (6), cr. (10) and (11), Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97; CR 22-048-: am. (11) Register July 2023 No. 811, eff. 8-1-23.

Trans 301.63 Ramps.

(1) A floor ramp shall be covered with nonskid material. A ramp when in the stored position shall be locked by a mechanical device to prevent its movement while the vehicle is in motion.

(2) New, used or remanufactured buses and vans placed in operation after February 25, 1992, and used to transport persons with physical disabilities shall comply with the requirements found in 36 CFR 1192.21 and 1192.23.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1982, No. 315, eff. 4-1-82; renum. to be (1), cr. (2), Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97; CR 22-048: am. (2) Register July 2023 No. 811, eff. 8-1-23.

Trans 301.64 Stanchions and barriers.