Service NL
December 20, 2016

Improving School Bus Safety

Provincial Government Announces Changes to Official Inspection Station Regulations

The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Service NL, today announced changes to the Official Inspection Station Regulations which will provide officials with stronger enforcement and reporting tools to ensure that the school buses on the province�s roads are safe.

�The safety of children is our top priority and there is no excuse for unsafe buses. The vast majority of school bus owners, Official Inspection Station owners and Authorized Inspection Mechanics fulfill their duties and ensure that children are transported safely to and from school each day. These changes will act as an additional deterrent for the small number of poor performers who would choose to put the public at risk by attempting to circumvent the law.�
- The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Service NL

The following changes will be made to the regulations:

• The Minister of Service NL will have more authority to impose permanent suspensions;
• Longer suspensions and increased fines for Authorized Inspection Mechanics and owners of Official Inspection Stations who are convicted of providing a false inspection certificate and more authority to impose permanent suspensions for repeat offenders; and
• Permanent suspensions will be applied to the location of the Official Inspection Station. This is intended to prevent the owner from reopening under another business name or operator at the same location.

A detailed list of changes to the regulations is provided in the attached backgrounder.

Also, as of today, the results of Service NL�s mandatory school bus inspections will be published biannually in the spring and fall on the department�s website. This fall�s inspection report is available at www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca.

�The Newfoundland Labrador English School District supports the Provincial Government�s commitment to providing quality transportation for students, including stronger regulations and reporting, along with enhancements to the procurement process. The vast majority of bus operators share our values of student safety and strengthening these regulations, posting of school bus inspections, and enhancements of the procurement process will provide a safer student transportation system.�
- Darrin Pike, CEO/Director of Education, Newfoundland and Labrador English School District

In addition to these changes to Official Inspection Station Regulations the new Public Procurement Act will give public bodies, including the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District, the ability to include performance management in the procurement process which is intended to hold suppliers accountable when they fail to live up to their obligations.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government has strengthened the Official Inspection Station Regulations to improve school bus safety in the province.
• The majority of school bus operators, Official Inspection Station owners and Authorized Inspection Mechanics fulfill their duties to transport students safely to and from school each day.
• Longer suspensions and higher fines will help deter those who attempt to circumvent the law and put the public at risk.
• The results of Service NL�s mandatory school bus inspection are now available on the department�s website and will be published biannually.

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Media contacts:

Gina MacArthur Media Relations Manager Service NL 709-729-4748, 730-2977 ginamacarthur@gov.nl.ca

Ken Morrissey Director of Communications Newfoundland and Labrador English School District 709-758-2371, 730-0798 kenmorrissey@nlesd.ca

BACKGROUNDER
Changes to Official Inspection Station Regulations

The following changes to the Official Inspection Station Regulations will be effective upon publication in the Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette.

• Licence suspensions for Authorized Inspection Mechanics who are convicted of providing a false inspection certificate will increase from nine months to 12 months for a first offence. As an additional measure under the new regulations, a second conviction within five years and/or a conviction under the Criminal Code may now result in a permanent suspension.
• Fines for owners of Official Inspection Stations and Authorized Inspection Mechanics who are convicted of providing a false inspection certificate will double. For a first offence the fines will range from $1,200 to $2,400 (the current range is $600 to $1,200) and for a second offence the fines will range from $2,400 to $4,800 (the current range is $1,200 to $2,400).
• Certificate of Appointment suspensions for owners of Official Inspection Stations will increase from nine months to 12 months for a first offence. The current permanent suspension in the case of a second offence within five years remains.
• For both the Official Inspection Stations and Authorized Inspection Mechanics a new provision is being added that will allow the Minister of Service NL, at the recommendation of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, to suspend a licence or certificate permanently at any time.
• Suspensions will also be applied to the location of the Official Inspection Station, to prevent the owner from reopening under another name or operator.

2016 12 20                             11:15 a.m.