Lakeville School Bus Company Earns Perfect Safety Score From State

Schmitty & Sons, the private Lakeville school bus company that has operated in the city since 1952, earned a perfect score on the annual state school bus inspections.

Minnesota school buses must be expected annually by the Minnesota State Patrol.

Schmitty has more in a press release:

Minnesota's school bus inspection program is based on a point value system devised to evaluate the condition of each bus that is operated in the State of Minnesota. Each school bus begins with 100 total points. As defects are discovered during the inspection process, points are deducted in accordance with values assigned in Minnesota Rule 7470.0700 "Table of points to be deducted".

School buses with an inspection score of 96 to 100 pass the inspection and an annual inspection decal is affixed to the windshield signifying its roadworthiness. A school bus with an inspection score of 80 to 95 points receives a 14-day temporary inspection certificate. The school bus must be re-inspected within the 14-day period or it is prohibited from transporting school children until the violation(s) have been corrected. Upon successful completion of the re-inspection, the State Patrol signifying its roadworthiness and will issue an annual inspection decal.

A school bus with less than 80 points is deemed unsafe for the transportation of school children. This school bus is immediately prohibited from transporting school children until the defects are corrected. A temporary inspection certificate is issued and affixed to the bus. Pending re-inspection by the State Patrol, a school bus bearing a rejection sticker may be used to transport pupils only if all defects have been corrected and the owner, or designee certifying the corrections has signed the inspection form. The signed certification form must be carried in the first aid kit on the bus for immediate verification of repairs by enforcement personnel.

Information and Facts provided by Minnesota State Patrol, a division of Minnesota Department of Public Safety.