(1) Except as provided in subsection (b), all passenger contract carriers regularly transporting passengers within or through the state who operate vehicles with a seating capacity of less than eight (8) passengers, excluding the driver, and employing more than five (5) drivers must comply with the minimum safety standards established by this part.
(2) A violation of any provision of this section or failure to perform any act required by this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
(3) This part does not apply to: A person who makes a single daily round trip to commute to and from work;
(4) A person transporting only school children and teachers;
(5) A person operating an ambulance or funeral service;
(6) A person who, on occasion and not as a regular business enterprise, transports one (1) or more passengers for pay;
(7) A person operating a stretched-sedan type limousine;
(8) A person operating a taxicab service for the general public using vehicles with a seating capacity of fewer than seven (7) passengers;
(9) Any public nonprofit or private nonprofit that provides transportation to the general public or to a specific client group; or
(10) Any entity licensed under chapter 17 of this title, operating a courtesy van or other motor vehicle.