The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Tuesday, Sept. 1, issued a civil penalty notice to Lehane’s Bus Service Inc. of New Castle, Del., for alleged federal motor carrier safety violations. FMCSA says the $83,120 fine was the result of an investigation by its Delaware division into the school bus company’s safety compliance record.
FMCSA cited Lehane’s Bus Service for a number of safety violations, including:
“As school buses return to the roads in communities across the country, it is imperative that every bus company and driver operates in full compliance with federal safety regulations,” says Rose McMurray, FMCSA acting deputy administrator. “For the FMCSA and its state partners, enforcing safety standards and accessing civil penalties that keep unfit carriers and drivers off the road is critical to protecting the millions of students returning to their classrooms this school year.”
FMCSA says the fine and citation of Lehanes Bus Service came as a result of the agency’s spring passenger carrier strike force initiative, “Operation Safe Student,” carried out May 8-21 in all 50 states and U.S. territories. The goal of the strike force was to remove unsafe buses, motorcoaches and other passenger carriers and drivers from the road, and to provide states additional opportunities to conduct roadside safety inspections.
FMCSA says Lehane’s Bus Service will have an opportunity to contest the alleged violations and the fine.
