School Bus Idle Reduction Requirement

School bus operators must turn off the bus engine immediately after arriving at a student loading and unloading area located on school grounds and may not start the engine until the bus is ready to leave the school grounds. In addition, operators may not idle the engine for more than five minutes in a 60-minute period on school grounds. Exceptions include periods when the engine is necessary to operate special equipment for disabled persons; to address safety, traffic, health, or emergency concerns; or to service the vehicle.

(Reference Vermont Statutes Title 23, Chapter 13, Section 1282 and Vermont State Board of Education Rules and Practices 6001 through 6005)