Selected cases concerning the "motor bus" PIP requirement:

• Park v. Park, 309 N.J. Super. 312 (App.Div. 1998). Deemer applies to out of state buses. Out of state busses paying PIP under deemer can recover from tortfeasors not required to carry PIP.
• Nebinger v. Maryland Cas. Co. 312 N.J. Super. 400 ( App. Div. 1998). Senior facility's min-bus not a "motor bus." This case provides an excellent discussion and explanation of the "motor bus" definition, and indicates that the only buses required to carry PIP are those that have fee-for-service transportation such as a charter bus or a private bus offering transportation along a route. Buses providing transportation as part of another service (e.g. hotels providing transportation to the airport) do not require PIP.
• Coach USA, Inc. v. Allstate New Jersey Ins. Co., 354 N.J.Super. 277, 806 A.2d 839 (App.Div. 2002), certif. denied, 175 N.J. 170, 814 A.2d 635 (2002). Insurer paying PIP may not recovery PIP from buses subject to the MEB requirement. Although N.J.S.A. 39:6a-9.1 allows recovery from tortfeasors not required to carry regular PIP, and the statute was not amended to include bus-PIP when bus-PIP was created, this was a legislative oversight. Buses subject to the MEB requirement are treated the same as other PIP vehicles under N.J.S.A. 39:6a-9.1

N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.5 defines "Motor Bus" as follows:
"Motor bus" means an omnibus, as defined in R.S. 39:1-1, except that "motor bus" shall not include: Note: it is probably best to first read the definition of omnibus, below and then come back to check these exceptions.

1. Vehicles engaged in the transportation of passengers for hire in the manner and form commonly called taxicab service unless such service becomes or is held out to be regular service between stated termini;
2. Hotel buses used exclusively for the transportation of hotel patrons to or from local railroad or other common carrier stations including local airports;
3. Buses operated for the transportation of enrolled children and adults only when serving as chaperones to or from a school, school connected activity, day camp, summer day camp, nursery school, child care center, pre-school center or other similar places of education, including "School Vehicle Type I" and "School Vehicle Type II" as defined in R.S. 39:1-1;
4. Any autobus with a carrying capacity of not more than 13 passengers operated under municipal consent upon a route established wholly within the limits of a single municipality or with a carrying capacity of not more than 20 passengers operated under municipal consent upon a route established wholly within the limits of not more than four contiguous municipalities within any county of the fifth or sixth class, which route in either case does not in whole or in part parallel upon the same street the line of any street railway or traction railway or any other autobus route;
5. Autocabs, limousines or livery services as defined in R.S. 48:16-13, unless such service becomes or is held out to be regular service between stated termini;
6. Any vehicle used in a "ridesharing" arrangement, as defined by the "New Jersey Ridesharing Act of 1981," P.L. 1981, c. 413 (C. 27:26-1 et al.);
7. Any motor bus owned and operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation; or
8. Any special paratransit vehicle as defined in R.S. 48:4-1.

N.J.S.A. 39:1-1 offers the following relevant definitions:
"Omnibus" includes all motor vehicles used for the transportation of passengers for hire, except commuter vans and vehicles used in ridesharing arrangements and school buses, if the same are not otherwise used in the transportation of passengers for hire.

"School Vehicle Type I" means any vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, used to transport enrolled children, and adults only when serving as chaperones, to or from a school, school connected activity, day camp, summer day camp, summer residence camp, nursery school, child care center, preschool center or other similar places of education. Such vehicle shall comply with the regulations of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and either the Department of Education or the Department of Human Services, whichever is the appropriate supervising agency.

"School Vehicle Type II" means any vehicle designed to transport less than 16 passengers, including the driver, used to transport enrolled children, and adults only when serving as chaperones, to or from a school, school connected activity, day camp, summer day camp, summer residence camp, nursery school, child care center, preschool center or other similar places of education. Such vehicle shall comply with the regulations of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and either the Department of Education or the Department of Human Services, whichever is the appropriate supervising agency.

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