[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6054616,"mediaKeyId","3335216-2b7c5bd3b75b355335fadbd372c1b92e","parentId",3335216,"title","Committee hears testimony on bill clarifying amber bus lights and enforcement challenges","audioSeconds",691,"startMs",1749000,"endMs",2440000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3335216-2b7c5bd3b75b355335fadbd372c1b92e&start=1749&end=2440","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3335216-2b7c5bd3b75b355335fadbd372c1b92e/thumbnail_1749000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6054616/Michigan/Committee-hears-testimony-on-bill-clarifying-amber-bus-lights-and-enforcement-challenges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6054616-ccf5611e52128007a01937102fed7916/orig.mp4?Expires=1775347709&Signature=EF5POJSx1D23tl6OTbYowvefx74T7IaeeUXoKVW3nrH7UQFQu6EJVadYYHs6MTPlSpeiDr4rOaUgmQdwERgoU5EmlUZ6WMxvA~KstQN5McIGoCqniH33Bs-Qe3IYrVfxFC7~oonquN426XzNmfMumpP3XBvfcyDAQ~~zIpxWtxLNylS428XCXbUMLDBFmsJCxOF44eQ4VBeFCDYUFNd-mMu4JR0C~Mb~kNDjYKkO3dqSYxK8xnmLV5WHqQhQKncgvMmS0x7vhy9Mu2xWyO4K2CL7zS00fNqFgNbIjsAsj6opmUUv5Hxt01PlXqPvxghoPpIxiu3kJ1RcRC4qqjIJ7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan Legislature","date","2025-05-13T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Pau Cat introduced House Bill 4214 and called two witnesses from Berrien County to describe stop-arm violations and the risks posed by unclear legal treatment of amber bus lights.

John Lehi, who said he has worked in the school bus industry since 1996 and became a director in 2009, told the committee a one-day survey in May 2024 of about 2,000 bus drivers reported roughly 1,300 illegal passes in a single day, including 46 on the right side of buses. Lehi recounted a 2014 incident in which a child was struck near a bus as amber lights changed to red; after reviewing footage, he said law enforcement concluded the child’s movement occurred before the red lights were active.

Lehi said current Michigan law references amber warning lights only in the context that bus drivers must activate amber lights at least 200 feet in advance of a stop (Public Act 187). “Currently slowing down for these amber lights is only a suggestion and this is dangerous,” Lehi said, and he expressed support for House Bill 4214 to clarify motorist obligations.

Deputy Nathan of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, traffic unit, told the committee that enforcement is time-consuming and that the prosecutor’s office requires identifying and contacting the driver, confirming who was driving, and obtaining prosecutor sign-off before issuing a citation — a process he estimated can take about three hours per incident. He said two districts in the county, Berrien Springs and Buchanan, have cameras on some buses and that those cameras have improved the ability to identify vehicles in some cases.

Members asked technical and policy questions. Representative Brock asked when amber lights switch to red; John Lehi described a 17-step procedure that includes checking mirrors, shifting to neutral and opening the door — Lehi said the switch to red occurs when the door is opened. Representative Cara asked whether buses can be equipped so red lights activate earlier via a door-switch modification; witnesses said the capability exists in other states but that retrofitting buses would cost money because it requires a different door switch.

No committee vote or formal action on House Bill 4214 was recorded in the hearing transcript; the record shows testimony and committee questions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Transportation and Infrastructure | Tuesday, May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers heard testimony on House Bill 4214 to define how motorists should respond to school bus amber warning lights and discussed enforcement difficulties, camera usage, and equipment limitations.","taxTitle","Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure, House of Representative, Committees\t\t\t\t\t, Legislative, Michigan","taxId",27738,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6054621,"Committee hears testimony on bills to classify MABIS vehicles as emergency vehicles and align driver training",700,605000,1305000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3335216-2b7c5bd3b75b355335fadbd372c1b92e&start=605&end=1305","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3335216-2b7c5bd3b75b355335fadbd372c1b92e/thumbnail_605000.jpg","/articles/6054621/Michigan/Committee-hears-testimony-on-bills-to-classify-MABIS-vehicles-as-emergency-vehicles-and-align-driver-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6054621-9e398a2eeb12a1616014b3cad492ba61/orig.mp4?Expires=1775347709&Signature=S2ogypue2oHfSfQSOSxkBL~1j0efJ8Mdr2pfS8OgXPelCmU-j4irCz7KDLwD-8aZpcN4zX6LZ6QIx-wXlAok~pvzfG~zDG2iUfACZWoF1uKaBo~-VVQ2MvkBz55iFFjwa8eqV0TJo5JAMthRZOJmMPcF2OHsksomakH9GP34acspQjZUMQhRkIBtX3UzH~RhQU3fuVpoT25ZkF6aXdjjTnp-CI09cKrWMtk42WCf4sNnzsHcR5LGhwBtMwAaS77aXo37ej1ONsc-T7gi6Xd-yxu1jIORtqn7~BELsTlmqESWBD5gHTHSviJTAmOCxWBsAXHUF9GKHxhAgVFym2M32g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Begole introduced bipartisan House Bills 4301 and 4302 to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, saying the measures would update the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code to support the Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, commonly called MABIS, and Michigan Task Force 1.

The bills would allow MABIS vehicles to use “red, white, yellow, and green oscillating lights while responding to or operating at emergencies,” and would permit members to operate emergency vehicles without a commercial driver’s license if they meet the driving standards under the Firefighters Training Council Act, Begole said.

Trent Adkins, former executive director of MABIS and Shiawassee County emergency management coordinator, told the committee MABIS is an opt-in mutual aid agreement that, he said, has been signed by “about 800 out of the 1,135” Michigan fire departments and that Michigan Task Force 1 is the state’s only Type 3 urban search-and-rescue team. “They cannot put emergency lights on it because by definition under the motor vehicle code, they're not considered an emergency vehicle, though they respond to emergencies,” Adkins said, arguing the current language leaves responders and the public less safe.

Adkins described Michigan Task Force 1 as a large, highly equipped team with “well over $10,000,000 worth of equipment” and the capacity to be self-sustaining in the field. He said inconsistent classification complicates vehicle registration and insurance and forces some drivers to obtain CDLs despite meeting the Firefighters Training Council’s emergency-vehicle standards.

Representative Koontz asked how the Firefighters Training Council training differs from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration CDL training and whether firefighter training programs could be accredited to confer CDL qualifications. Adkins said the council’s training is “very specific to emergency vehicles” and that some programs are accredited through the Firefighters Training Council, but he did not know the accreditation status of any specific program.

Representative Brock questioned whether adding multi-color lighting could cause confusion with other emergency or work vehicles. Adkins said Task Force 1 vehicles would likely be equipped with red and white lights typically used by fire-rescue equipment, and that MABIS and Task Force 1 already coordinate on radio channels within the State 800 system and have seats in the state emergency operations plan.

No vote or formal committee action on House Bills 4301 or 4302 was recorded in the hearing transcript; testimony was received and the committee moved on after questions.

Committee members asked several operational questions about training, accreditation, communications, and standard operating procedures for light use; Adkins said policies and procedures for light use are common in the fire service and would likely be adopted by Task Force 1 and MABIS.

The hearing record contains testimony and questions but no recorded motion or vote on the measures.","Lawmakers heard bipartisan testimony on House Bills 4301 and 4302 to change Michigan law so vehicles operating under the Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABIS) can display emergency lights and allow certain drivers to operate without a commercial driver’s license if they meet Firefighters Training Council standards.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears testimony on bill clarifying amber bus lights and enforcement challenges

Committee hears testimony on bills to classify MABIS vehicles as emergency vehicles and align driver training