Overview of the New San Diego Prom Transportation Law
A recent change in California legislation has introduced stricter regulations for companies providing transportation for minors attending school-related events such as prom, homecoming, and winter formals. The New San Diego Prom SPAB Law has taken many in the limousine, party bus, town car, and shuttle industries by surprise, creating confusion and increased demand for SPAB-certified operators.
What is SPAB?
SPAB stands for School Pupil Activity Bus. Under California Vehicle Code Section 546, any commercial vehicle transporting minors to or from school-sponsored events must meet SPAB certification requirements. This includes:
- Special DMV permits
- Additional CHP-monitored driver training
- Vehicle inspection and certification
Assembly Bill 830 (AB 830)
- Higher operating costs for party bus, limousine, and shuttle services
- Mandatory chaperones for youth groups in certain cases
- Reduced availability of compliant transportation providers
How This Affects Parents and Students
Parents are now facing additional responsibilities:
- Verifying that transportation companies are SPAB-certified
- Providing adult chaperones for groups of minors
- Navigating a reduced pool of legal providers for prom transportation
This new layer of regulation could cause scheduling and pricing challenges during peak school event seasons.
Enforcement and Penalties
The Debate Over Safety vs. Accessibility
While the California Minor Transportation Law aims to improve safety for underage passengers, many industry experts argue it imposes financial and logistical burdens that do little to address the real causes of event-related accidents. Luxury transportation options like limos and party buses are statistically safer than personal vehicles in these settings—yet fewer providers will now be eligible to serve this market.