CHP Sidelines 8 of 34 School Buses in 2nd Surprise Inspection : Magic Mountain: The inspectors check vehicles transporting students to grad night celebrations. They find problems with brakes, lights and driver’s licenses.

In the second surprise inspection of school buses carrying students to graduation night celebrations at Magic Mountain amusement park within a week, the California Highway Patrol took nearly one-third of the buses it checked out of service Friday because they were unsafe, authorities said.

Of the 34 buses inspected, eight were deemed unsuitable to make the return trip home due to faulty brakes and problems with headlights, brake lights and turn signals. Additionally, two drivers were not allowed to continue because they lacked proper licenses to operate a bus, CHP Public Safety Officer Rick Meier said.

In all, CHP officers issued 25 citations for 43 different violations during about three hours of spot checks Friday.

The inspections came one week after a June 4 spot check at Magic Mountain when the CHP issued 15 citations among 32 school buses. Five vehicles were pulled from service and two drivers were not allowed to drive home, Meier said.

Bus companies are responsible for making all repairs before the buses can be driven again. They also are required to send other buses to transport students home.

Meier, the CHP’s assistant division school safety coordinator, said the checks are necessary to ensure the well-being of the students.

“A lot of bus accidents and needless tragedy could be prevented if these buses were in good working order,” Meier said. “The area around Magic Mountain is particularly risky because the buses have to climb and descend some fairly steep hills.”

For the second consecutive year, the CHP waited until the annual grad night celebration--when school buses from all over Southern California bring thousands to the park--because it is easier than pulling buses over and provides relatively little disruption to students enjoying themselves inside, CHP Field Supervisor Shannon Campos said.

On Friday, as the Cyclone roller coaster whirled in the distance, four teams of CHP “motor carrier specialists” busied themselves with the task of making the return trip home safer, if more uneventful, for some of the 1,200 junior high school students inside the park.

As one CHP officer talked to a driver and checked paperwork, a second inspected the exterior, looking for cracks in tires and rust near lug nuts--an indication of improper tightening--and checking the light, suspension, brake and steering systems.

The checks were rigorous and provided a glimpse into the red tape the bus drivers must grapple with in order to operate legally.

For instance, in addition to possessing proper licenses, drivers are required to be certified by the CHP and have a first aid certification that must be renewed every two years.

Last week, one driver tried to pass off a forged CHP certification and was cited, Campos said.

Drivers also are required to rest a minimum of eight hours between shifts and can work only 16 consecutive hours and drive a maximum of 10 consecutive hours.

Though some drivers whose vehicles were inspected Friday night suddenly found themselves without a bus, many were matter-of-fact about the 20-minute safety checks.

“They’re just trying to do their job, just like we’re trying to do ours,” said Art Rodriguez, who transported 41 students to the park from Viewpoint Junior High School in Oxnard.

Others grumbled.

After his bus was removed from service, one disbelieving driver who requested anonymity, said the brakes on his bus “felt fine,” had been adequate on the way to the park and that the bus was fully capable of making the return trip safely.

Still, Meier said most drivers were understanding.

“There were no real major complaints . . . some were obviously not very happy, but they pretty much went with the program,” Meier said.