[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},"mediaId",6270475,"mediaKeyId","3034640-d9d47b8ec5749856bbb14c015bd9d553","parentId",3034640,"title","DMV outlines school bus instructor standards, endorsement rules and safety tools including seat-belt and camera options","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5680000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034640-d9d47b8ec5749856bbb14c015bd9d553&start=5680&end=5680","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034640-d9d47b8ec5749856bbb14c015bd9d553/thumbnail_5680000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6270475/Vermont/DMV-outlines-school-bus-instructor-standards-endorsement-rules-and-safety-tools-including-seat-belt-and-camera-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270475-339eaedc5fe8a4d0716c2d20fe5f2148/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135691&Signature=JrPNyL-7fZywRWtw3R-9Dwm-TR1~g2xPALSkQ3VVXr1o412L87s-T~OyhPZFBvD3UhwpZaCCH8IqupREjBxGgZNL7oDAkJpseF7s~RNqdQ4cBWUPhm9UfXX7zCq2q1ORBVYwIEDuSq~uHhQ3US6MLTA~bGHlkNxB7uU8zrqBgm4QbXCmVLSTHPyGJUA7gb2hAFfcGkYLuKxxVsFnlgQQcgXvqcyPJARYnxXtUkPMBzOY11qJfEVfJquLT65BXi~L~H6KuX-ZcNmoMwozhP0~17DkWFAExhPAWXqoWpYaIP9vzBDHe9of0xwvkQ-sgy0ChSg373e68Hc7UFZkTGfpUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-17T08:10:17.44Z","article","Pat, the DMV Education Unit supervisor, briefed the House Transportation Committee on the agency’s school-bus training, certification and safety initiatives, including instructor qualifications, a state school‑bus endorsement for non‑CDL vehicles and national data the DMV uses for safety assessments.

\"The administration of school bus program is overseen by me. It has 23 certified school bus clinic instructors,\" Pat said, describing the clinic-instructor model used for statewide training. He told the panel that certified clinic instructors are not DMV employees; to qualify they must hold a Class B CDL with passenger and school-bus endorsements and have approximately ten years’ experience driving school buses before certification as a clinic instructor.

Why it matters: School-bus operators transport children daily and state rules govern who may drive different types of vehicles, what training is required, and what safety equipment must be used. DMV officials said the state requires a specific Type-2 school-bus endorsement on a regular operator license for small non‑CDL school buses — a requirement Pat said Vermont uniquely enforces compared with most other states.

Training and endorsement mechanics

Pat described the clinic: an eight-hour course with both classroom and in-bus activities; attendees must complete the full clinic to receive credit. For Type-2 non‑CDL school-bus drivers, applicants must pass a state written exam and a driving test that includes passenger pickup/drop-off and railroad-crossing scenarios to earn the endorsement. Clinic instructors are observed and must co-teach five clinics before being signed off; DMV performs audits and can decertify instructors for serious incidents.

Seat belts, camera enforcement and safety data

Pat discussed the debate over seat belts on school buses and cited California’s experience as part of that discussion: \"One of the things they found was their single vehicle school bus crashes went down since they initiated the seatbelt law,\" he said. He noted there are currently eight states that require seat belts on school buses and that districts differ on whether they enforce wearing.

On enforcement, Pat described red‑light camera options used in some jurisdictions and a Montgomery County, Maryland, program that installed bus cameras and pursued images with investigations that could attach points and higher fines to identified drivers; in some models the vendor shares fees with local agencies. He said the DMV collects and participates in national surveys of driver behaviors around buses and that the agency can supply the committee with that data.

Ending

Pat closed by offering to provide the committee further data from national surveys and the supplemental material behind the state’s safety assessments; he said the DMV will continue auditing clinics and evaluating recommendations from national experts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Transportation - 2025-04-15 - 1:05PM","oneSentenceSummary","DMV officials described certification requirements for school-bus clinic instructors, the state's unique endorsement for non‑CDL school-bus drivers, and discussed seat-belt mandates and red‑light camera enforcement options used in other jurisdictions.","taxTitle","Transportation, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",35155,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6270480,"Committee hears DMV analysis of costs, options for possible RV CDL/endorsement bill",125,4839000,4964000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034640-d9d47b8ec5749856bbb14c015bd9d553&start=4839&end=4964","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034640-d9d47b8ec5749856bbb14c015bd9d553/thumbnail_4839000.jpg","/articles/6270480/Vermont/Committee-hears-DMV-analysis-of-costs-options-for-possible-RV-CDLendorsement-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270480-0f2ab1545131e2c2e54a7e82f25cc7c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135691&Signature=bLTYl2v-t9rkeZXyLaXnkIaIoUm54EFjTq3wOIZ43uIrIaXpYhpfnjK-go2Sn2rjMEXJGdQhsGTJvRKSShucN9A94~6vDcGq2mdx3bPdx9hEpvByHIGEYv50S0QUnkO4gCfBx2fFF9DKOoMtGjd-oubwAXnmnyGWOTlimr1S~X9x2ANwceaEeQLffMGCYGBEYeN6-lE9r7TA7xCAgyHELImF6W46ccJFpQH~agwK0aFBYdkJYLbPJMc4J~TPa87mc4pPED4TnSfpf-Y6tM-LQGFHhUKnq4Nwz6M7fj8rqjlQfUOBmdHJ0~LXSOgFReRvB6~2XYaNnrnmoE49ISD5Dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pat, the DMV Education Unit supervisor, told the House Transportation Committee that the agency reviewed a proposed bill that could require either a commercial driver's license (CDL) or a special RV endorsement for people operating large motor homes.

\"The way I read the bill is that it is going to require DMV to do the schools similar to our motorcycle program,\" Pat said, summarizing the committee bill's potential effect. He told members the DMV considered a distributed model with multiple statewide training sites so the program would be accessible to residents outside Chittenden County.

Why it matters: Requiring a CDL or a new state-level endorsement would raise training and equipment needs for the state and private providers. The committee sought basic feasibility and cost estimates to understand the implications for staffing, capital purchases and geographic access.

Costs, equipment and sites

Pat presented preliminary cost estimates and site considerations. He said certain existing DMV and Agency of Transportation (AOT) sites (for example, Colchester) have classroom space but may be active vehicle operations sites that complicate weekday classes. For equipment, Pat told the committee the state would likely have to acquire specialized vehicles to run a DMV-operated training program: a large Class A motorhome or coach (he estimated about $200,000 apiece), a dual-axle pickup for heavy GVWR work (Pat cited $60,000–$90,000 as an example) and flatbed or trailer assets; he also cited utility-trailer costs and other equipment. \"With just the classroom, range and the vehicles, you're talking half a million per site,\" he said, adding that six sites could approach $3 million in capital cost.

Alternatives and out-of-state training

Pat said existing Vermont CDL schools have tractor/trailer equipment and could run large-vehicle training using their own inventory and instructors, but the DMV found no licensed Vermont school currently offering RV-specific training. He also showed a map indicating that some other states require a CDL for certain RV configurations while others require a special endorsement or neither.

Representative Hurd told the committee she would favor pursuing an endorsement rather than mandating CDL for RV operators; Pat said the committee could ask the commissioner to gather more detail on how endorsements are handled in other states. Pat offered to compile a written report on Maryland and other states that use endorsements for motor coaches or large motor homes.

Ending

Pat said the committee would need to consider classroom and range availability, vehicles and instructor training needs before advancing legislation, and he offered to provide further written comparisons of out‑of‑state approaches and more detailed cost estimates.","DMV staff reviewed options and cost estimates tied to a proposed bill that would require a commercial driver's license or endorsement for large recreational vehicles, noting equipment, site and instructor costs that could push a multi-site state program into the millions.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6270485,"Vermont DMV: private driver-education schools, third-party examiners expanded after COVID",890,1908000,2798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034640-d9d47b8ec5749856bbb14c015bd9d553&start=1908&end=2798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034640-d9d47b8ec5749856bbb14c015bd9d553/thumbnail_1908000.jpg","/articles/6270485/Vermont/Vermont-DMV-private-driver-education-schools-third-party-examiners-expanded-after-COVID","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270485-a1f09dfbd0d4a4677a657e55feb6d674/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135691&Signature=N6MhIH~-UU2TZvt0F5vhWZqwkgKBidtYb7P3z-vdQQ-jv61Y0LUbpPHqPsnUD4RBM-HCdJyY~EAIQIstvqqRUNsnrICk5YLp~7WVrDdFI-O9JndxGmKfgCr8RDQYiowauWXfTYsk51FuQBg51EMaY~eMMyPD~Hix~yY~h~zd2gzd5jFrKjYeBqaqqHcQrZQ6P1klHG2IW7oWUKmbVpH~MvKlGGqslnvu7kxiyvOlasmZ8jEKcceTngxkUSey2NeVOGiK1B25DGw~nwUH8sPQ2hxphrCMbKbGsdNw4UDzKCPmWjLs9FpB7Uhj9knronk3icX95J4DrSvHxpKjs4bAEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pat, supervisor of the DMV Education Unit, told the House Transportation Committee that Vermont licenses private driver-education schools, audits their curriculum and conducts background checks on instructors and owners.

\"We do a background check. We do a criminal background check as well as a DMV background check,\" Pat said, describing licensing for private driver educators and listing disqualifying offenses such as recent DUI or convictions for assaulting children.

Why it matters: Driver-education licensing and testing determine how many teens and adults can access supervised behind-the-wheel training and how closely private providers are monitored for safety and consumer complaints.

Private schools and instructor standards

Pat said there are 63 licensed private driver-education schools in Vermont and 71 licensed standard driver-education instructors. He distinguished DMV-licensed private schools from the Agency of Education (AOE) high-school programs, noting AOE runs its own program and that both follow comparable curricular requirements. Private schools are required to apply, pay an application fee, and are subject to biannual relicensing that includes background checks and audits. Pat said driver-education applicants must pass a written knowledge test and a driving test and that instructors must complete continuing education: licensed instructors must complete 30 hours of continuing education over a two‑year renewal cycle.

Third-party examiners and pass rates

Pat described a post‑COVID expansion of third‑party examiners: \"We increased our third party examiners from 3 pre COVID to 35 post COVID.\" He said third-party examiners may test their own students and students from other schools; they may also issue temporary 90-day licenses upon a pass and, as of July 2024, are permitted to test adults. Pat told the committee that third-party testing yields pass rates in the high 80s to 90% range compared with an overall DMV pass rate of roughly 75% for on-site DMV testing, and he attributed part of the difference to private instructors’ extended contact time with students.

Virtual classroom and testing changes

The DMV now allows online permit testing and real‑time virtual classroom instruction (with specific camera and attendance requirements); Pat said the first-class parent meeting must be in-person. He also described auditing and enforcement steps for private schools, including site visits, review of paperwork and potential suspension for repeated noncompliance.

Ending

Pat said the DMV will continue audits and renewals, including background checks at re-licensing, and will investigate consumer complaints. Committee members asked for follow-up data on retests and how complaints are handled; Pat offered to provide supplemental data to the committee.","DMV staff outlined licensing and oversight for private driver-education schools, reported growth in third‑party examiners since COVID and presented comparative pass-rate data for DMV, Agency of Education and private programs.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6270490,"Vermont DMV previewing motorcycle safety season, reports high course pass rates",1391,245000,1636000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034640-d9d47b8ec5749856bbb14c015bd9d553&start=245&end=1636","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034640-d9d47b8ec5749856bbb14c015bd9d553/thumbnail_245000.jpg","/articles/6270490/Vermont/Vermont-DMV-previewing-motorcycle-safety-season-reports-high-course-pass-rates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270490-f1e08d1bd3c9388c337f80dd0d8b14b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135691&Signature=YuZHaPdiitGz68P7x846mwh3BtMmJQ0JwSAWMq9dvaTIp9jUl493CWUREYMICPHHKN43aa19EQoRZVcCUVHbjATGL7~r-H4Us2AFN3ql6eJes9ZmdkIZOiTitwwCVbPUZ~8PL~O6jHjBBaJ7VjgarB-NZI7dgpcEOV-yCK6vWn2rzXBXQAFX-QF9A85bVbFvxykTTNcH-5yGieF9N2bIpH5ZWngizf4pyHFJjUNBELLqgy5lLaZO4jnB7cH9cgD0AOqKnaIe18KBjzsLvcZKu2hRpZqhu2Jn7ZEsUPOwa4gAsBGtO0y-gr2E-DVyafEH7CmoHrRAjTj0Z8po27z98A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pat, supervisor of the Education Unit at the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, told the House Transportation Committee on April 15 that the agency is opening motorcycle-rider training sites across the state this weekend and expects an active season through October.

The program the DMV runs is the Vermont Rider Education Program (VERIP), a long-running motorcycle-safety program taught to Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) standards. \"We start with the very basics. We teach them, this is your clutch. This is your front brake. This is your rear brake,\" Pat said, describing the two-day basic rider course. He added, \"By the end of the weekend, they're actually riding,\" emphasizing the program's hands-on progression.

Why it matters: VERIP is the DMV's principal in-state training for new motorcyclists and for riders seeking endorsements. The program supplies both curriculum and, for most beginner classes, state-provided motorcycles. Officials told the committee the training is intended to improve on-road skills and reduce crashes by teaching controlled braking, weaving and emergency maneuvers in a managed range setting.

Key program details and staffing

Pat said the DMV currently lists 7 sites and 8 ranges for VERIP classes (one site contains two ranges). The program includes lifecycle staffing of long‑season and seasonal instructors: the supervisor named Justin McClain and Frederick Goddette as full-year motor vehicle safety and education specialists and said the program includes about 31 BRep instructors in total (including Justin, Frederick and Pat) plus roughly 28 seasonal instructors employed during the riding season. The agency runs a mix of classroom and range work and has a partnership with Wilkins Harley-Davidson for a Harley-specific offering.

Courses and outcomes

VERIP offers multiple course types including a two-day basic rider course, a three-wheeled basic rider course, an intermediate rider course and a one-day advanced rider course. Pat said certain sites are limited by parking-area size and painting requirements and that the St. Johnsbury range closed after flood damage last July but is being prepared to reopen.

On outcomes, Pat provided 2024 statistics: the DMV scheduled 106 basic rider classes and held 92 (cancellations were mainly due to the St. Johnsbury site closure). He said approximately 965 students were enrolled in basic courses, 849 attended, and 754 passed, which he reported as an 88.81% pass rate. For intermediate courses he reported 57 enrolled, 44 attended and 43 passed (97.73% pass rate). Advanced and three‑wheel classes showed high pass rates as well; Pat noted the advanced course includes no pass/fail skills test. He told the committee that when students fall and damage state motorcycles, the program has repair arrangements with local shops and spare parts on site for commonly replaced items such as clutch and brake levers.

Program oversight and quality assurance

Pat said VERIP instructors are certified through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and the DMV recently hosted an MSF quality-assurance class that included representatives from 11 states so the DMV staff can perform their own program audits going forward. He described the program as following MSF national curriculum and noted the military also recognizes MSF training.

Ending

Pat said the first weekend of classes will open the season and the DMV will operate courses through late October. He urged members to note space limitations at specific ranges and that some class types are available only at particular sites because of size and marking requirements.","The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles outlined plans to open motorcycle safety course sites across the state this spring, described its instructor staffing model and reported near-90% pass rates for rider courses in 2024.","actionData","errors"]

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