Interpretation ID: 86-2.11

TYPE: INTERPRETATION -NHTSA

DATE: 04/01/86

FROM: WILLA BLACK KENNEDY, -- STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ARKANSAS BUREAU OF LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

TO: ERICA JONES -- CHIEF COUNSEL OFFICE OF THE CHIEF COUNSEL NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

TITLE: NONE

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 07/25/86, TO WILLA BLACK KENNEDY, FROM ERIKA Z. JONES, REDBOOK A29, HSPS 17

TEXT: Dear Ms. Jones:

The Joint Interim Committee on Public Transportation of the Arkansas General Assembly has established a special subcommittee to conduct a study of the need for laws regulating maintenance and licensing drivers of used buses being purchased by nonprofit organizations and churches for transportation of their members. For the purpose of this study, the term "old buses" or "used buses" shall mean buses of the type used by public and private schools for the transportation of children, and buses owned and used by bus companies and municipal and interurban transit authorities for the transportation of persons for hire, which have been acquired by private individuals, firms or group and which are operated for the transportation of persons, other than the members of their own families, upon the public highways and streets of this State.

Section one of this study is stated as follows:

"Whereas, it is unclear whether current regulations of the Department of Transportation apply to buses being utilized for non-commercial purposes to transport the members of nonprofit organizations and churches; and ..."

Would you please provide a written interpretation regarding this section so that it may be presented to the committee. Specifically, do current Department of Transportation regulations dealing with school buses or transit buses apply to the used buses in these modes (school/transit) that are sold and are being utilized for non-commercial purposes to transport the members of nonprofit organizations and churches?

I would appreciate your expeditious response to this request so that I may proceed with the committee study. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,