PROTECTING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
Without proper planning, a liability lawsuit could severely disrupt or bankrupt your business and your personal property.
You have a duty to maintain your vehicle, office building, or classroom that is open to the public in a reasonably safe condition. This duty requires you to take the following steps:
- Regularly inspect your premises to ensure that there are no hazards to the safety of your students or clients. This is especially important if slippery conditions are created by students coming in from rainy or snowy weather or your floors have recently been washed or waxed.
- Post warning signs if any unusual conditions exist.
- Doors, floors, aisles, steps, lighting, and displays of merchandise should be properly maintained.
- Entrances and exits should be properly lighted.
If you fail to meet your duties, a client or student who suffers an injury on your business premises may have a right to sue your business if it can be proven that
- An unsafe condition existed on your premises;
- The student's injury was caused by the unsafe condition; or
- You knew of the unsafe condition, or the condition had existed for so long that you should have discovered it during the course of regular inspections.
Your vehicle is your key business asset and also your liability. If you should have a crash with students, your business is in a pack of trouble if the vehicle is found with a mechanical failure. A circle checklist must be done before any student enters the vehicle, and redone every 3 hours thereafter by the instructor that is operating that vehicle.
Remember, becoming incorporated is a protective screen for your personal property but that screen also has a whole lot of holes in it. Note, if you should happen to subcontract your driving instructors, you are still liable for the actions that sub contractor does. By law, you do not have the say over how the Subcontractor instructs your students in the vehicle, but yet, you are the one responsible for the students.
Corporation status is only as good as the amount of insurance you have and the negligence that the parties involved can prove. If your corporation is depleted, then the involved party goes for your personal property.
- Do you have more than the State of Maine Liability insurance standard of $400,00.00 on your business property?
- Do you have insurance of $1,000,000.00 on each of your vehicles?
Circle checks – Refer to "State of Maine Commercial Driver’s Manual"
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR INSTRUCTORS
- Hair Color Abbreviation Chart
- 18 Month Permit Conversion Chart
- Important BMV Phone Numbers
- Check List for Issuing Permits
HAIR COLOR CHART |
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Blonde |
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BL |
Brown |
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BR |
Black |
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BK |
Red |
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RD |
Blue |
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BL |
Hazel |
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HZ |
Green |
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GR |
Grey |
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GY |
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PERMIT CHART |
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- January - July
- February - August
- March - September
- April - October
- May - November
- June - December
- July - January
- August - February
- September - March
- October - April
- November - May
- December - June
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IMPORTANT BMV PHONE NUMBERS |
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- BMV Driver Education Program
Voice: 624.9156
Fax: 624.9158
- BMV Medical Section
Voice: 624.9104
- BMV Examination Section
Voice: 624.9178
Fax: 624.9175
- Social Security Office
1.800.772.1213
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CHECK LIST FOR ISSUING PERMITS |
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- NEW CLASS REPORT
Send in 7 days before class starts.
- REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION
Fax in to 624-9175
Voice 624-9178
- STUDENT RECORD SHEET ( One for each student)
Maintain records throughout the course.
Document Permit Number
Document CCC Number
Document History Number
- UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION.
Give to student: Top portion of completion certificate & Permit Driving Log.
- MAIL TO EXAMS (Within 7 days)
Exam Application
Completion Certificate (Bottom)
Birth Certificate (Copy)
Other Legal Documents
MVE-103 (Vision form)
CR-24 (Medical form)
ONE CHECK for all applications $10.00 each.
Address:
Secretary of State
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Examination Section
State House Station # 29
Augusta, ME 04333-0029
- MAIL TO DRIVER EDUCATION (Within 7 days)
Completion Report
Class Roster
Address:
Secretary of State
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Driver Education Program
State House Station # 29
Augusta, ME 04333-0029
- FILE:
Driving School Application
Student Record Sheet
Driving Log (if separate)
Copy of Birth Certificate
Copy of CCC
Copy of Permit
Permit Exam Test Answer Sheet
- LABEL THE FOLDER FOR THE MONTH AND YEAR.
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