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New York Consolidated Laws, Vehicle and Traffic Law - VAT § 1229-b. Operation of school, camp and charter omnibuses with passengers standing prohibited

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

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
June 30, 2002

15% of approved seating capacity

Between July 1, 2002 and
June 30, 2003

10% of approved seating capacity

Between July 1, 2003 and
June 30, 2004

 5% of approved seating capacity

(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.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - New York Consolidated Laws, Vehicle and Traffic Law - VAT § 1229-b. Operation of school, camp and charter omnibuses with passengers standing prohibited - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/vehicle-and-traffic-law/vat-sect-1229-b/

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