ChurchSafety

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Ensuring safe transportation to and from church ministry activities can be a vital aspect of ministry. Churches often use bus ministry services as an effective outreach tool in neighboring communities. Churches and ministries frequently purchase old or slightly used school buses to fulfill transportation needs. A church should consider both the physical condition of the bus and the legal requirements for conversion when purchasing a school bus for use as a church bus.

I. Common Requirements

Each state has slightly different requirements for converting old school buses into church buses. For this reason, you should touch base with a locally-licensed attorney to help guide you through the process in your state. Some common examples of these requirements are:

• Repainting the bus to a color other than "school bus" yellow
  
• Removing or disabling the stop arm
  
• Removing or disabling the flashing lights
  
• Placing the organization's name on the bus in a clear fashion
  
• Registering the bus as a passenger vehicle with the state
  
• Removing or covering the words "school bus" or "stop"
  

By enacting requirements like the ones listed, states are attempting to alleviate any confusion that might occur on the roadways when a bus looks like a school bus when it is not. Specific rules apply to vehicles that share the road with buses, and states want to make sure it is clear which bus is a school bus and which is not. Some of these requirements may differ for churches that use the buses to transport students in connection with a school or daycare. The church should check their specific state requirements for any differences.

A. Painting the bus

Many states require old school buses to be painted a different color when they are used for new purposes. A church in a state with this requirement should select a color of paint that does not conflict with the yellow their particular state uses for school buses.

B. The stop arm

The stop arm will most likely need to be either removed or disabled by the church or ministry converting the bus. In states with this requirement, the church should be careful to not give the appearance of having a working stop arm in order to avoid any confusion. The state may have a specific requirement for how to disable the stop arm, and may also clarify whether the arm needs to be removed completely or only partially.

C. Flashing lights

The requirement to remove or disable flashing lights is similar to the requirements regarding stop arms. Some states ask that the flashing lights on the school bus either be removed completely or disabled. The flashing lights allow school buses to notify passing traffic that there are students on board. Churches in states with this requirement need to be thorough when removing or disabling flashing lights, because these lights may be placed in many different locations

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