N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1229-b: Operation of school, camp and charter omnibuses with passengers standing prohibited

§ 1229-b. Operation of school, camp and charter omnibuses with

passengers standing prohibited. 1. When the number of passengers is

greater than the number of seats available, it shall be unlawful to

operate a camp or charter omnibus upon the public highways for a

distance of ten miles or more with any passenger standing.

2. It shall be unlawful to operate upon the public highways a school

bus owned by or contracted to a school district with any passenger

standing whenever it is employed exclusively for the transportation of

students under the age of twenty-one and teachers or other persons

acting in a supervisory capacity to or from school or school activities,

except as provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subdivision:

(a) Standing passengers may be permitted on such a school bus,

provided that the number of standing passengers on a school bus shall

not exceed the limit established in the following schedule for the

applicable time period:

Period: Not more than:

Through June 30, 2001 20% of approved seating capacity

Between July 1, 2001 and 15% of approved seating capacity

June 30, 2002

Between July 1, 2002 and 10% of approved seating capacity

June 30, 2003

Between July 1, 2003 and 5% of approved seating capacity

June 30, 2004

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the

contrary, standing passengers may be permitted without limitation as to

number during the first ten days of session in each school year, and in

circumstances where a breakdown, accident, or other unforeseen

occurrence necessitates the transportation of standing passengers.

(c) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to restrict

the power of a city with a population of one million or more to adopt

and enforce local laws that comply with at least the minimum applicable

standards set forth in this section.