Code of Massachusetts Regulations
540 CMR - REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Title 540 CMR 21.00 - Semiannual Safety Inspection of Pupil Transport Vehicles
Section 21.03 - Vehicle Inspection Procedures

1. The parking brake shall be tested by accelerating the motor to approximately 1200 to 1300 RPMs with the vehicle in the lowest forward gear against the brake in the applied position, and shall be found to hold the vehicle.

2. The service brake shall be tested at a speed between four and eight MPH and shall be found to be reasonably equalized so that the vehicle does not pull noticeably to either side when applied; and, with the first application of the service brake pedal, to not travel more than 50% of the total distance the brake pedal can travel. In all questionable cases, service brakes shall be adequate to stop the vehicle while traveling at a speed of 20 MPH in not more than the distance of 30 feet. Any vacuum assisted system for service brakes shall be in good working order.

1. any broken glass with sharp or jagged edges inside or outside;

2. any stone bruise, star break, or bull's eye damage in excess of one inch in diameter within the area covered by the sweep of the vehicle's wipers provided by the vehicle's manufacturer (the critical viewing area) or larger than two inches outside the critical viewing area, or multiple such damage;

3. any single line crack which extends more than three inches into the critical viewing area;

4. multiple cracks one or more which extends into the critical viewing area;

5. any wiper scrapes in excess of 1/4 inch wide within the critical viewing area;

6. any clouding extending more than three inches within perimeter of the exposed glass;

7. any poster, sticker, decal, or similar object, attached to the windshield in such a manner as to obstruct the vision of the operator.

1. in the brake or fuel system;

2. that may be a source of combustion;

3. that may come in contact with brake pads, linings, or exhaust system.

1. All tires shall be free of any fabric break or cut in excess of one inch, any bulge, bump or knot related to the deterioration of the tire structure or any ply or cord structure which is visible;

2. All tires shall have tread depth of at least 4/32 of an inch in any recut, regrooved, siped, or original tread groove, when measured with a tire depth gauge in a major tread groove nearest the tire center at two points, 15 inches apart, on the circumference.

3. No studded tires shall be used between May 1st through November 1st, unless approved by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

4. No vehicle shall have radial tires on the same axle with non-radial tires, or radial tires on the front axle with non-radial tires on the rear axle, with the exception that vehicles equipped with dual rear tires may have radial or non-radial on any axle, provided they are not intermixed on the same axle.

1. The vehicle shall be equipped with a pressurized, dry chemical fire extinguisher complete with hose. Extinguisher must be mounted in a bracket, located in the driver's compartment and readily accessible to the driver and passengers. A pressure gauge shall be mounted on the extinguisher so as to be easily read without moving the extinguisher from its mounted position.

2. The fire extinguisher shall be of a type approved by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. The seal shall be intact and gauge shall read green at all times.