Section 12523.5 Of Article 1. Persons Required To Be Licensed, Exemptions, And Age Limits From California Vehicle Code >> Division 6. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 1.
12523.5
. (a) No person shall operate a general public paratransit
vehicle unless he or she has in his or her possession a valid driver'
s license of the appropriate class endorsed for passenger
transportation when operating a vehicle designed, used, or maintained
for carrying more than 10 persons including the driver and either
(1) a certificate issued by the department to permit the operation of
a general public paratransit vehicle, or (2) a certificate issued by
the department to drive a schoolbus or school pupil activity bus
pursuant to Section 12517.
(b) Applicants for a certificate to drive a general public
paratransit vehicle shall pay a fee to the Department of the
California Highway Patrol of twenty-five dollars ($25) for an
original certificate and twelve dollars ($12) for a renewal
certificate. Applicants for an original certificate shall present
evidence that they have successfully completed a driver training
course consisting of a minimum of 40 hours of instruction within the
previous two years. The instruction shall have covered applicable
laws and regulations and defensive driving practices, a minimum of
eight hours of certified defensive driving, and a minimum of 20 hours
of behind-the-wheel training in a vehicle to be used as a general
public paratransit vehicle. Applicants seeking to renew a certificate
valid for driving a general public paratransit vehicle shall present
evidence that they have received two hours of refresher training
during each 12 months of driver certificate validity.
(c) The driver certificate shall be issued only to applicants
qualified by examinations prescribed by the Department of Motor
Vehicles and the Department of the California Highway Patrol. The
examinations shall be conducted by the Department of the California
Highway Patrol. The Department of Motor Vehicles may deny, suspend,
or revoke a certificate valid for driving a general public
paratransit vehicle for the causes specified in this code or the
Education Code or in regulations adopted pursuant to this code or the
Education Code.
(d) An operator of a general public paratransit vehicle shall do
all of the following:
(1) Use seatbelts.
(2) Refrain from smoking.
(3) Report any accident reportable under Section 16000 to the
Department of the California Highway Patrol.
(e) A person holding a valid certificate to permit the operation
of a general public paratransit vehicle, issued prior to January 1,
1991, shall not be required to reapply for a certificate to satisfy
any additional requirements imposed by the act adding this
subdivision until the certificate he or she holds expires or is
canceled or revoked.