This Part is promulgated pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-22-12, 31-38-4, and 31-47.1-7.

The purpose of this regulation is to establish minimum equipment and safety standards for jitneys.

A. For the purposes of this Part, the following terms shall have the following meaning:

1. “Jitney” means:

a. A "public bus" that includes every motor vehicle, trailer, semi trailer, tractor trailer or tractor trailer combination, used for the transportation of passengers for hire, and operated wholly or in part upon any street or highway in such a manner as to afford a means of transportation similar to that afforded by a street railway company by indiscriminately receiving or discharging passengers; or running on a regular route or over a portion thereof between fixed termini; or

b. A "private bus" that includes every motor vehicle other than a public bus or passenger van designed for carrying more than ten (10) passengers and used for the transportation of persons, and every motor vehicle other than a taxicab designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation.

Any jitney operator must hold a Class I or IV chauffeur’s operator’s license when actively engaged in the operation of a jitney and transporting passengers for hire.

Each jitney shall prominently display the name of the owner or lessee of the jitney on each side of the exterior of the jitney in accordance with Interstate Commerce Commission regulations if so engaged and/or while engaged in the transportation of passengers for hire intrastate.

A. All equipment shall be maintained in proper adjustment and kept in good operating condition.

B. The passengers’ section shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

C. Every jitney shall be completely examined by the operator at adequate regular intervals or mileage intervals for mechanical or structural defects and necessary repairs shall be made before jitney is placed in service. A record of such examination showing the major conditions corrected shall be retained for not less than six (6) months at the place where the jitney is customarily domiciled.

A. The over-all length shall not exceed forty (40) feet, including bumpers.

B. The over-all width shall not exceed one hundred and two (102) inches, outside measurements.

C. The over-all height shall not exceed one hundred and fifty (150) inches over-all.

D. The inside height of jitneys transporting passengers shall not be less than six (6) feet and two (2) inches measured vertically from the floor level in the center aisle to the ceiling.

A suitable guard rail, gate or marking shall be provided on jitneys transporting passengers in excess or seated capacity, which will prohibit passengers from standing forward of the plane of the back of the drivers’ seat, when the jitney is in motion.

A. The words “EMERGENCY DOOR” shall be conspicuously marked in letters at least one and one half (1 1/2) inches in height on or above or immediately adjacent to the door.

B. A minimum height at vertical center of the passageway of at least forty-five (45) inches shall be provided.

C. A minimum passageway from the main aisle and an unobstructed door opening of at least twelve (12) inches at the threshold and eighteen (18) inches between top of seat cushion and a point forty-five (45) inches from the threshold or floor at a vertical center of passageway shall be provided,

D. The emergency door shall be constructed and maintained in such condition as to be readily opened from the interior by the passengers or driver in case of emergency.

E. One (1) or more ruby or red protruding type lamp shall be located inside of the jitney over the emergency door connected to the headlights or the marker signal to warn the driver when the door is not completely closed.

F. In lieu thereof, jitneys and busses shall be provided with emergency escape kick-out or push-out windows. Each of such windows shall be in the form of a parallelogram having dimensions of not less than eighteen (18) inches x twenty-four (24) inches, and each shall contain an area of not less than four hundred (400) square inches. There shall be a sufficient number of such push-out or kick-out windows in each vehicle to provide a total escape area equivalent to sixty-seven (67) square inches per seat, including the driver’s seat, and no less than forty (40) percent of such total area shall be on one side of the vehicle. Such emergency escape kick-out or push-out windows shall be conspicuously marked by a sign or light, and shall always be kept in good working order so that passengers may readily open same in an emergency. Kick-out or push-out windows shall be properly and adequately hinged at the top.

G. Relative to the rear windows in jitneys and busses, when the dimensions of such rear windows is not less than eighteen (18) inches x twenty-four (24) inches and when the rear windows are of these dimensions or larger, they may be of the push-out or kick-out type, properly hinged at the top.

A. The width of the aisle shall not be less than fourteen (14) inches.

B. Seats of either permanent or temporary character will not be permitted in the aisle or on either side of the driver. The main aisle and the passageways from the main aisle to any door shall be unobstructed. The placing of a seat at the rear service door of jitneys equipped with a separate emergency exit door in a service where the rear service door is not generally used will be permitted, provided the service door may be used by passengers as an emergency exit in addition to the emergency exit door.

A transverse seat space of not less than sixteen (16) inches shall be provided for each seated passenger.

A. Rails or handles located inside the jitney body shall be provided at each service door.

B. Outside handles will not be permitted on any door of the jitney.

Each jitney shall be equipped with an adequate ventilation system

A. Each jitney shall be equipped with a suitable and efficient heating system maintained in proper operating condition.

B. No portion of the exhaust system shall be contained within the body of the jitney and no portion of exhaust system shall be used for purpose of heating vehicle.

C. Heating system shall be designed so that fumes cannot enter the inside of jitney or passenger area.

A. Fuel tanks and filler pipes shall be located wholly outside of the jitney body and rearward of the plane of the windshield.

B. Fuel tanks shall be so constructed and located that they may be filled and drained only from the outside of the jitney body.

C. The fuel supply line shall not be connected at the bottom of the tank.

Inside and outside mirrors shall be provided to insure a clear view of the traffic to rear of the jitney.

A. An adequate interior lighting system shall be provided.

B. At least one step light shall be provided at each service door. Step shall be properly illuminated.

C. Each jitney shall be equipped with front and rear running lights, stop lights and reflector in accordance with the minimum requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws Title 31.

Every jitney shall be equipped with at least one (1) portable fire extinguisher of not less than one (1) quart vaporizing liquid or four (4) pounds carbon dioxide capacity or equivalent, which shall be of a type approved by a recognized underwriter’s laboratory under Classification B or C utilizing an extinguishing agent not requiring protection from freezing, properly filled and kept in serviceable condition at all times and so placed as to be plainly visible or readily located and easily removed from position.

The chassis and body, or complete jitney, shall be so designed and constructed that it will properly and safely support the gross weight of the vehicle, including capacity passenger load.

A. Each jitney shall be equipped with two (2) sets of brakes, each operated independently of the other and conforming to the following standards of construction and maintenance.

1. All jitneys shall be equipped with service (foot) brakes, operated on all wheels, actuated by “power brakes”, meaning a brake system using stored energy as the principal force in the operation of the brakes. Service (foot) brakes shall be constructed and maintained to stop a fully loaded jitney in accordance with the minimum requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws Title 31.

2. Emergency (hand) brakes shall be constructed and maintained to stop a fully loaded jitney in accordance with the minimum requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws Title 31.

3. Brake systems actuated by compressed air pressure or vacuum power shall be constructed to afford the following results:

a. Compressed air brake systems shall be equipped with an air compressor of sufficient size to fully charge the reservoir to its rated operating pressure in two and one-half (2 1/2) minutes.

b. Reservoir capacity shall be sufficient to permit not less than four (4) full brake applications after the motor has been shut off.

c. Brake systems actuated by vacuum power shall have reservoirs with a volume of not less than one thousand (1,000) cubic inches for braking purposes only.

d. Every jitney having air brakes or a hydraulic power brake system with accumulator shall be equipped with gauge clearly visible to the driver which shall show the pressure in the reservoir. The lighting of the air gauge shall be of non-glare type.

e. Jitneys equipped with air brakes or a hydraulic power brake system with accumulator as above shall be equipped with a device which, when the pressure in the air reservoir or accumulator is insufficient to activate any power operated device on the jitney, will give a distinctive audible or visible warning signal. Such warning signal shall be so located as to be readily visible to or easily recognizable by the driver.

4. Brake lines shall be so located as to prevent chafing or damage.

Each jitney shall be equipped with one or more suitable windshield wipers that will provide the driver with a reasonable clear forward view.

Exhaust system shall vent at the extreme rear end of the jitney body not higher than the floor level.

The drive shaft shall have a substantial metal guard so located as to prevent the shaft from dropping on the roadway or causing damage to the brake system or coming in contact with the roadway or with other parts of the jitney in the event that it breaks or becomes disconnected, unless otherwise adequately protected.

Each jitney shall be equipped with directional signals in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Title 31.

Each jitney shall be equipped with a horn or other signaling device to give reasonable warning to other users of the highway of the approach of the vehicle.

Each jitney shall be equipped with a first aid kit.

A. All glazing shall be of an approved type.

B. The windshield shall be equipped with laminated safety plate glass.

C. All windows shall be equipped with safety plate glass, safety sheet glass, or a material having the visibility and shattering characteristics of safety sheet glass.

All tires shall be in good and safe conditions

Each jitney shall be equipped with flares.

Each jitney shall prominently display on the front of the vehicle a valid official certificate of inspection indicating compliance with the foregoing standards of inspection; such inspection shall be made at least semi-annually.