Maine could adopt new rule about transporting alcohol on buses

The state Department of Education is considering a rule next year that would prohibit school bus drivers from having unopened containers of alcohol in their vehicles after students found their driver's unopened beer on the bus. Currently, there is no state law that prohibits this.

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February 15, 2011

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Students on a school bus in the Unorganized Territory in Maine recently discovered an unopened beer belonging to the bus driver. An investigation into the incident concluded that the driver did nothing illegal, since no state law prohibits anyone over 21 from transporting alcohol on a school bus. However, state officials view this as a loophole and are working to close it.

Upon learning of the incident, Shelly Lane, superintendent of schools in the Unorganized Territory, turned the matter over to Maine State Police, Bangor Daily News reports.

Lt. Brian Scott investigated the complaint along with the Maine Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit of the state police.

“There’s no state law that prohibits a school bus driver from transporting alcohol on a bus, [although] it’s certainly a violation of most policies,” Scott told the news source.

Moreover, Scott told the Bangor Daily News that the Department of Education is contemplating adopting a new rule next year to prohibit school bus drivers from having unopened containers of alcohol in their vehicles.

Topics:driver handbook/policies Maine Safety

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