2020 -- H 7580

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LC004221

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES

GENERALLY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Jacquard, Lima, Millea, McNamara, and Handy

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2020

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-23 of the General Laws entitled "Equipment and Accessories

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Generally" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     31-23-56.1. Crossing control arm.

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     (a) Commencing September 1, 2021, school buses may be equipped with a crossing

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control arm mounted on the right side of the front bumper. When opened, this arm must extend in

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a line parallel to the body side and aligned with the right front wheel.

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     (b) All components of the crossing control arm and all connections must be

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weatherproofed.

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     (c) The crossing control arm must:

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     (1) Incorporate system connectors (electrical, vacuum, or air) at the gate; and

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     (2) Be easily removable to allow for towing of the bus.

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     (d) The crossing control arm must be:

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     (1) Constructed of noncorrodible or nonferrous material; or

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     (2) Treated in accordance with the body sheet metal specification.

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     (e) The arm must have no sharp edges or projections that could cause injury or be a

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hazard to students. The end of the arm must be rounded.

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     (f) The crossing control arm must:

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     (1) Extend a minimum of seventy inches (70") (measured from the bumper at the arm

 

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assembly attachment point) when in the extended position;

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     (2) Extend simultaneously with the stop signal arm or arms, activated by stop signal arm

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controls; and

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     (3) Not extend past the end of the bumper when in the stowed position.

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     (g) An automatic recycling interrupt switch may be installed for temporarily disabling the

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crossing control arm.

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     (h) The assembly must include a device attached to the bumper near the end of the arm to

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automatically retain the arm while in the stowed position. That device must not interfere with

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normal operations of the crossing control arm.

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     (i) The crossing control arm may have an override switch that disallows the use of the

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crossing arm when the emergency brake is engaged.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES

GENERALLY

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     This act would allow school buses to be equipped with a crossing control arm in addition

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to a stop arm commencing September 1, 2021.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004221

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