MOTOR CARRIER BUS REQ.; MODIFY S.B. 251:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 251 (as reported without amendment)
Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Motor Bus Transportation Act to do the following:
-- Eliminate a requirement that each bus on a motor carrier's roster display the motor carrier's primary telephone number.
-- Modify the requirements for a display on each bus on a motor carrier's roster.
-- Eliminate a provision that exempts a school bus from the requirement to display a primary telephone number on both sides of the bus.
Under the Act, except as otherwise provided, each bus on a motor carrier's roster must display the motor carrier's legal name or assumed name as listed on its application for authority or official request for name change as submitted to the Michigan Department of Transportation on both sides of the bus in a color that is in sharp contrast to the background color and in a size that is visible from a distance of at least 50 feet. The bill would eliminate the requirement that the display be on both sides of the bus.
In addition, each bus on a motor carrier's roster must display the motor carrier's primary telephone number in the manner prescribed above. The bill would delete this requirement.
BRIEF RATIONALE
Currently, State law requires each bus on a motor carrier's roster to display the motor carrier's primary telephone number; however, this requirement contradicts Federal law, which prohibits a State from enacting or enforcing any law requiring a motor carrier to display any form of identification on or in a commercial motor vehicle other than that required by the Secretary of Transportation. Federal law does not require the display of an operator's phone number, and so it has been suggested that this requirement be deleted.
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION
The bill is a reintroduction of Senate Bill 646 of the 2019-2020 Legislative Session. The bill passed the Senate and was referred to the House Committee on Transportation but received no further action.
Legislative Analyst: Abby Schneider
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 5-24-23 Fiscal Analyst: Michael Siracuse
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.