~Controls to continue~
PHILIPSBURG--A school bus driver was sanctioned and his vehicle put out of operation on November 18, after several defects were found on the bus.
Controllers of the School Bussing and Taxi Dispatch section of the Inspectorate of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunications discovered the violations during patrol. The bus was not transporting school children at the time of the control.
Controllers first detected the defective brake lights of the bus, which was then ordered to pull off the road and was controlled. Several other “failures” were later observed, including the rear bumper which was in need of repair, the rear right-hand side glass was cracked and the entrance door was also found not to be functioning properly. Upon further investigation, controllers found that the vehicle documentation was also not in order.
The Controllers ordered the school bus out of service immediately and sanctioned the bus driver.
The TEATT Inspectorate said in a press release on Sunday that it recognises “the great lengths and cost” that school bus owners go through to ensure that their busses are well maintained, safe to operate and most importantly safe to transport school children.
However, the department said it will continue to strictly enforce the rule of law for those found not to be adhering to the law and department policy. “School busses must always be operated safely and be in a technically sound and sanitary condition at all times.”
The Inspectorate said the controls will continue and violators “will be dealt with swiftly and strictly.”
For questions, concerns or complaints, the public can visit the TEATT Inspectorate at Tamarindesteeg #16 (Yellow Building) on the Walter Nisbeth Road (Pondfill) or call tel. 542-4511 or e-mail
idez [DOT] inquiries [AT] sintmaartengov [DOT] org .
Controllers put school bus out of operation for several violations
