Federal Government Issues New 15-Passenger Van Safety Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently issued new rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently issued new rules to improve the safety of “commercial” 9 to 15 passenger vans and small buses that are used in interstate commerce. “These requirements will help improve safety for occupants of these vehicles, which are known to pose serious safety risks,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said.

Under the new rules, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) will apply to all companies operating commercial motor vehicles (CMV) designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver) in interstate commerce for “direct compensation” when the vehicle is operated beyond a 75-mile radius from the location where the driver normally works. Drivers of these vehicles will be required to meet the same physical qualifications and hours-of-service rules as motor coach drivers, except they will not be required by the FMCSA to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or be tested for controlled substances and alcohol. Businesses operating these vehicles will be subject to compliance reviews and the same stringent safety standards used to evaluate other interstate motor carriers. Carriers that receive an “unsatisfactory” safety rating will be prohibited from operating CMVs to transport passengers in interstate commerce. The vehicles will be required to meet the same safety requirements as motor coaches.

Church vans are not subject to these new rules, because they typically do not receive “direct compensation” from passengers. But, pressure is mounting to do more to improve the safety of 15-passenger vans, and so these new rules are not the final word. For now, church leaders should carefully review the feature article entitled “Church Vans” that appeared in the July-August 2002 issue of this newsletter (also available as a special report from the publisher), and follow the recommendations in that article. This is even more urgent now that the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation has publicly declared that 15-passenger vans “are known to pose serious safety risks.”

© Copyright 2004 by Church Law & Tax Report. All rights reserved. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Church Law & Tax Report, PO Box 1098, Matthews, NC 28106. Reference Code: m90 m21 c0104

Richard R. Hammar is an attorney, CPA and author specializing in legal and tax issues for churches and clergy.

This content is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. "From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations." Due to the nature of the U.S. legal system, laws and regulations constantly change. The editors encourage readers to carefully search the site for all content related to the topic of interest and consult qualified local counsel to verify the status of specific statutes, laws, regulations, and precedential court holdings.

ajax-loader-largecaret-downcloseHamburger Menuicon_amazonApple PodcastsBio Iconicon_cards_grid_caretChild Abuse Reporting Laws by State IconChurchSalary Iconicon_facebookGoogle Podcastsicon_instagramLegal Library IconLegal Library Iconicon_linkedinLock IconMegaphone IconOnline Learning IconPodcast IconRecent Legal Developments IconRecommended Reading IconRSS IconSubmiticon_select-arrowSpotify IconAlaska State MapAlabama State MapArkansas State MapArizona State MapCalifornia State MapColorado State MapConnecticut State MapWashington DC State MapDelaware State MapFederal MapFlorida State MapGeorgia State MapHawaii State MapIowa State MapIdaho State MapIllinois State MapIndiana State MapKansas State MapKentucky State MapLouisiana State MapMassachusetts State MapMaryland State MapMaine State MapMichigan State MapMinnesota State MapMissouri State MapMississippi State MapMontana State MapMulti State MapNorth Carolina State MapNorth Dakota State MapNebraska State MapNew Hampshire State MapNew Jersey State MapNew Mexico IconNevada State MapNew York State MapOhio State MapOklahoma State MapOregon State MapPennsylvania State MapRhode Island State MapSouth Carolina State MapSouth Dakota State MapTennessee State MapTexas State MapUtah State MapVirginia State MapVermont State MapWashington State MapWisconsin State MapWest Virginia State MapWyoming State IconShopping Cart IconTax Calendar Iconicon_twitteryoutubepauseplay
caret-downclosefacebook-squarehamburgerinstagram-squarelinkedin-squarepauseplaytwitter-square