Pennsylvania State Police: 15 Motor Coaches, 23 Drivers Taken Out of Service in Multi-Agency Motor Coach Enforcement Effort

HARRISBURG, PA--Feb. 2, 2012: The Pennsylvania State Police recently participated in a weeklong enforcement effort inspecting motor coaches, State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan announced today.

State and municipal motor carrier enforcement personnel, along with the Public Utility Commission staff, inspected 284 motor coaches at sites throughout Pennsylvania, including casinos and other popular tourist destinations.

Between Jan. 21 and Jan. 27 enforcement personnel placed a total of 15 motor coaches and 23 drivers out of service for various safety violations.

"Motor coaches account for more than 750 million passenger trips each year, and with a large number of popular travel destination locations throughout Pennsylvania, the safety of these vehicles and their drivers is of great importance to us," Noonan said. "These enforcement efforts are just one of the many ways we help ensure the safety of everyone traveling on Pennsylvania roadways."

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration monitors interstate bus and truck safety. Before choosing a charter bus line, visit the agency's website, www.fmcsa.dot.gov, to research the safety history of any specific interstate passenger carrier company.

Visit Pennsylvania State Police online at Pennsylvania State Police.

Media contacts: Maria A. Finn or Sgt. Anthony Manetta, 717-783-5556

The following is a breakdown, by State Police troop area, of the number of motor coaches inspected; number of vehicles and drivers placed out of service; citations and warnings issued by State Police only:

• Troop B (Allegheny, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties), 40 inspections; two vehicles out of service; one driver out of service; six citations; 33 warnings.
• Troop G (Bedford, Blair, Centre, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, and Mifflin counties), 49 inspections; no vehicles placed out of service; no drivers out of service; no citations; four warnings.
• Troop H (Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Perry and York counties), 50 inspections; six vehicles placed out of service; three drivers out of service; 14 citations; 63 warnings.
• Troop J (Chester and Lancaster counties), 23 inspections; no vehicles out of service; 16 drivers out of service; 16 citations; 412 warnings.
• Troop K (Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties), 23 inspections; no vehicles out of service; no drivers out of service; two citations; eight warnings.
• Troop M (Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties), 35 inspections; two vehicles out of service; two drivers out of service; 11 citations; 32 warnings.