Transportation Policy Frequently Asked Questions
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| Schools | Bus | Article Drivers | General | Particular Organizations | Additional Questions |
Category: Schools
Does a teacher have to have a drivers check if they run personal errands on their conference time, go to a doctor’s visit or go to lunch? This should not be a problem if they never conduct school related business or functions while they are away from the office running these personal errands. It is recommended that they officially “clock out” so there is no dispute that they are on personal time.
What about a young person, under the age of 21 or 25, driving a golf cart at our Golf Tournaments? Check with the rules and requirements of the golf course/club, they must have a valid driver’s license (with no restrictions). Ex: Learner’s Permit not allowed.
If the school is transporting students to an event and the parent or designated pick-up person wants to take their child and their friends home after the event, does the driver who is transporting the children home need to comply with the transportation policy and insurance requirements? The parish/school needs a signed note, (verbal consent will NOT suffice) that their child may ride home with this other person, once the child is in the custody of the designated “Pick-up Person”, the child is their responsibility and no longer the responsibility of the parish/school.
For an annual event (i.e., NASA, Alamo, field trips, etc.), where one is transporting people for this event only, do the drivers need the required insurance? Yes, they must have the required driving check, 100/300/50insurance coverage and adhere to the safe environment policy.
a. If so, does the diocese offer coverage for that particular day? No.
b. Or, can the individual be exempt since they will never drive again? (Ex: Grandparent/Relative visiting from out-of-town). No
Is daycare required to follow the parish guidelines or the schools? It depends on who governs the daycare (rather it is the parish or the school) as to who guidelines are followed. If you have additional questions, please contact the Office of Safe Environment or the Business Office of the Diocese of Victoria.
Category: Article Drivers
Do the quilters have to have the insurance or drivers check to go buy thread? The only time the policy applies is if they are at church and leave the quilting group to buy thread. In this instance they are going for a specific reason related to the church. The answer to this particular question is “yes”.
When two or more Eucharistic Ministers are transporting the Blessed Sacrament, to distribute to the home-bound or the hospital, do they need to have the higher insurance coverage? No, their primary objective is transporting articles, not people.
Parishioners on their way to an adjoining town to buy groceries, stop by the Church to check if the parish bank bags need to be taken to the bank. What is required of these volunteers for our parish/drivers to comply with the transportation policy? They have to comply with Part B of the policy.
Category: Bus
If you rent (contract) a bus for one day from the ISD, what paperwork, insurance, etc. are necessary to comply with the transportation policy? Please contact the Business office for the complete compliance information.
Using parish/school volunteer as a bus driver? Yes, all policies must be adhered to.
Using a driver from the school district? No, as long as the driver is an active employed driver.
If the bus driver is a parishioner, Church volunteer, and an ISD bus driver, do they have to be Safe Environment trained? Not to drive the bus, but to chaperone they must be safe environment compliant.
Does a bus driver need to have the higher insurance coverage? No, they only need the state minimum, as the buses are insurance.
Category: General
What if your car gets “a red-light camera ticket”, BUT you were not the driver? Be sure to report the ticket on the moving violation form found here: http://www.victoriadiocese.org/businessoffice/Transportation/moving%20violation%20form1.pdf In the space provided, please explain exactly what happened. The Diocesan Transportation Committee will then make a suitable decision
If a driver fails to report a ticket, does it come back to the individual or the entity (i.e., parish/school)? DMV checks are run every three years so eventually the diocese will know of the infraction. Not reporting may affect both the individual and the entity, in that the driver may be restricted from driving due to non-compliance with the transportation policy. This may hinder the entity in the future in that they may not be able to use this particular driver.
If the parish/school staff has a meeting in another town and the staff wants to carpool from the parish/school, does the driver need to have a driver’s check and the 100/300/50 insurance coverage when:
a. Driver is picking up individuals from their home? No, IF arrangements were made on their own and not arranged by the parish/school, or IF the event did not start at the parish/school.
b. Staff is meeting at the parish/school and leaving from there so the driver will not have to go all over town picking up the carpool? Yes, you involved the parish/school because you are meeting their.
Do husband/wife teams need to have the higher insurance rate when driving in the name of the parish/school? No, If they are transporting articles only
Do individuals need to fill out two separate forms for children/adults AND articles, or will the one form be all inclusive for both? Completing Part A - will cover them for both articles and people.
Do priests need to fill out a form and have it on file? Yes, each site that the priest is affiliated with should have a copy of the form on file.
My vehicle does have the 100/300/50 required insurance to transport individuals. Can my son use this vehicle to drive other students to or from parish/school events? He may ONLY use this vehicle IF he personally has the required 100/300/50 insurance himself, the vehicle has Texas State minimum required insurance, he is 25 years of age or older, is Safe Environment compliant, AND is approved at the parish/school as a driver.
The transportation policy states there is an exemption form for school bus routes. Can I use this for my CCD bus route since the school can use it for their regular bus routes, and our parish also has regular bus routes? No.
How long is the on-line driver check valid? For 3 years.
Does a Seminarian going back to seminary need a driver check? Yes
If we start at the church and load articles only in the adult cars, can the underage drivers drive themselves to the retreat location? No, because the event was started at the parish or any other place under the direction of the parish, adherence to the policy is required.
Many of adults go to the Steubenville conference each to act as volunteers for the Conference (they are not chaperones for our group from the parish. Do these volunteers for Conference only need to comply with our policy? No, not unless the parish arranges the transportation for these adults.
If someone volunteers for two parishes/schools, do they need to fill out a form for each location? Yes
Does the driver of a parade trailer have to be Safe Environment trained? No
A parish festival auction-donation consists of a fishing trip that includes transportation to the fishing location/meals/etc. Does this fall under the transportation policy? No
They paid for the rental of a U-Haul truck as a donation for the annual school festival to use to transport their auction items from the parish/school to the event location. Do they have to comply with the transportation policy? Yes
Category: Particular to Organizations
Do Boy Scouts have to follow diocesan policy? Yes, the Boy Scouts must follow the diocesan policies, if they are chartered by a parish/school of the diocese.
What if the Boy Scouts are chartered by the Knights of Columbus? Yes, the Knights of Columbus have a close affiliation with the parish and activities are seen as an extension of the parish so all policies and procedures must be followed.
Our Altar Society meets at the parish and we leave for our trip from there. Do we have to comply? The Altar Society is an important part of any parish and must comply with all diocesan policies, including the transportation policies.
Our parish/school festival volunteers change every year. Do we have to comply with the driver policy? Yes, perhaps a parish transportation committee can be established to transport articles for various events.
A lady in our parish makes the best kolaches in our area, and everyone knows she is donating kolaches to our festival. Does she have to comply with the policy as a volunteer driver for the parish? No, her trip originates at home and then her items are donated to the parish/festival.
Although Junior Catholic Daughters does not fall under our insurance, the adult chaperones must be SE compliant. However, if they meet at the parish on a regular basis to transport the young girls to their annual conference, do they need to have a driver check and meet the 100/300/50 insurance requirements? Yes.
The Transportation Policy states there is a 10 hour driving limit. What does this time frame consist of? Drivers may not exceed 10 hours of driving time in a 24 hours period. For example, one cannot drive from 2:00 pm until 12:00 midnight, and take a break and drive from 12:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
What about KJZT? Catholic Daughters? In regard to funeral meals, etc.? Yes, they must comply. Concerning funeral meals, if Items are taken from the parish to another location, then yes, compliance with the policy is required, for people donating food items/ paper goods for the funeral meal, no, because they are taking it to where the event begins.
Do Gabriel Project volunteers who shop at garage sales for the organization need to have a driver check? Yes, they are attending the garage sale as part of the regular duties of this organization.
Do Knights of Columbus have to follow this policy? Yes
When a boy scout/girl scout volunteer is picking up popcorn/cookies for their prospective annual sales, should these adults be complaint with the transportation policy? Yes
Can the Boy Scouts drive the golf carts for the Jubilee Mass at the convent? Check with the rules and requirements of the insurance at the convent, but drivers of the golf cart must have a valid driver’s license (with no restrictions). Ex: Learner’s Permit not allowed.