Section 575IAC1-9-49. Lamps and signals; rear

   (a) Each bus must have four (4) combination red brake tail lamps. Two (2) combination lamps with a minimum diameter of seven (7) inches (or if a shape other than round, a minimum of thirty-eight (38) square inches of illuminated area) must be mounted on the rear of the bus, next to the turn signals. Two (2) combination lamps with a minimum diameter of four (4) inches (or if a shape other than round, a minimum of twelve (12) square inches of illuminated area) must be placed on the rear of the body between the belt line and the floor line.

  (b) Each bus must have two (2) tail and brake lamps, each with a diameter of three and three-fourths (3 3/4) inches and two (2) tail and brake lamps, each with a diameter of seven (7) inches (or if a shape other than round, a minimum of thirty-eight (38) square inches of illuminated area), that emit a red light that is visible for five hundred (500) feet during normal weather conditions. Tail lamps must be mounted on the bus at least forty (40) inches from the center of the lamp to the ground. The tail lamps must be:

(1) placed below the window line; and

(2) spaced at least five (5) feet apart.

  (c) Brake lamps must have at least the intensity of the Class A turn signal lamps as established by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Stop lamps must emit a steady light when illuminated. Buses with bodies supplied by chassis manufacturer may have manufacturer's standard stop and tail lamps.

  (d) Each bus must have two (2) backup lights.

  (e) The rear of the bus must have seven (7) inch Class A amber turn signals (or if a shape other than round, a minimum of thirty-eight (38) square inches of illuminated area) that meet SAE standards. The front and rear turn signals must be mounted as high as practical and placed as wide apart as practical but not less than three (3) feet. The rear turn signal lamps' centerline must be at least eight (8) inches below the rear windows. Conversion vehicle lamps must be at least twenty-one (21) square inches in lens area. These signals must be independent units and have a four-way hazard warning switch that causes simultaneous flashing of the turn signal lamps when they are needed as a hazard warning.

  (f) Backup lights may come on when rear door is opened. (State School Bus Committee; 575 IAC 1-9-49; filed Aug 15, 2014, 10:20 a.m.: 20140910-IR-575130244FRA)