NUTMEG RISK MANAGEMENT GUIDE STUDENT TRANSPORTATION CONNECTICUT PUBLIC PASSENGER ENDORSEMENTS Draft #1, 9/26/06

This two page guide is intended to provide a quick summary of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Public Passenger Endorsements related to Student Transportation. Information was drawn from the Department of Motor Vehicles website, www.ct.gov/dmv and from phone conversations with their representatives.

To understand which Public Passenger Endorsements are required we must first define the types of vehicles and their uses.

Definitions

Non-Commercial Base License Class D – any motor vehicle that does not require a Commercial Drivers License (CDL)

Activity Vehicle – a student transportation vehicle that is used to transport students in connection with school sponsored activities, but is not used to transport students to and from school.

School Bus – a vehicle that meets the requirements of Connecticut General Statutes Sec. 14-275, including a commercial motor vehicle used to transport preschool, elementary or secondary school students from home to school, form school to home, or to and from school-sponsored events. (CDL is required)

Student Transportation Vehicle – any motor vehicle other than a registered school bus used by a carrier for the transportation of students, including children requiring special education. Summary of Requirements

Summarizing the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles website for the Non-Commercial Drivers License Public Passenger Endorsements as related to student transportation:

Endorsement “A” is “required before operating a student transportation vehicle used in connection with school sponsored events and activities, but not used to transport students to and from school.”

Endorsement “V” is “required before operating a student transportation vehicle transporting students to and from school.

Commercial Drivers License with Endorsement “P” is required before operating a school bus.

Non-Resident Licenses: A non-resident who holds an operator's license issued by another state or country may operate a vehicle that otherwise requires a Connecticut public passenger endorsement, provided the non-resident holds the equivalent endorsement from their home jurisdiction.

Exceptions: Vehicles requiring Endorsements “A” and “V” may be operated by drivers without said endorsements when the vehicle is not transporting passengers.

Conclusions

All drivers driving students to and from school sponsored events in any vehicle, (other than a school bus), are required to have Endorsement “A” on their Connecticut Non-Commercial Drivers License. If a non-resident then they must have the equivalent endorsement from their home jurisdiction.

If the vehicle is considered a school bus, then a Commercial Drivers License with Endorsement “P” is required.

Exception: Parents driving their personal vehicle with less than 10 students are not required to have any endorsements.