SENATE BILL No. 392

 

 

June 11, 2015, Introduced by Senator JONES and referred to the Committee on Transportation.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1982 PA 432, entitled

 

"Motor bus transportation act,"

 

by amending the title and sections 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 15, 16, 17,

 

23, 27, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 39 (MCL 474.101, 474.103, 474.104,

 

474.105, 474.107, 474.109, 474.115, 474.116, 474.117, 474.123,

 

474.127, 474.129, 474.132, 474.133, 474.134, 474.135, and 474.139),

 

sections 3, 4, 5, 7, 17, 23, 27, 29, 33, 34, 35, and 39 as amended

 

and section 32 as added by 1989 PA 233, section 9 as amended by

 

2012 PA 570, and section 16 as amended by 1996 PA 421, and by

 

adding sections 10 and 38; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

TITLE

 

     An act to regulate persons who transport passengers by motor

 

limousine or bus; to prescribe powers and duties for the state

 

transportation department; to impose certain fees; and to impose


 

penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.

 

     Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "motor

 

bus transportation act"."commercial passenger transportation act".

 

     Sec. 3. As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Applicant" means a person who applies for a certificate

 

under this act.

 

     (b) "Authorized seasonal vehicle" means an authorized vehicle

 

that satisfies both of the following:

 

     (i) The department has approved the vehicle to be used in

 

service for a contiguous period of time that does not exceed 6

 

months.

 

     (ii) The vehicle satisfies the inspection and insurance

 

requirements of this act during the period the vehicle has been

 

approved for use.

 

     (c) "Authorized vehicle" means a vehicle operated by a motor

 

carrier that complies with all requirements of this act.

 

     (d) "Bus" means a motor vehicle with a seating capacity of 16

 

or more passengers, including the driver, that is used in the

 

transportation of passengers and their baggage for hire upon any

 

public highway of this state. Except as otherwise provided in

 

section 4(1)(j), bus includes a school bus.

 

     (e) (a) "Certificate" of authority" means a certificate of

 

authority issued under the terms of this act. unless the context

 

indicates otherwise.Certificate includes an original annual

 

certificate, a reinstatement certificate, and a renewal

 

certificate.

 

     (f) "Certified mechanic" means a person certified by the


 

secretary of state under the motor vehicle service and repair act.

 

     (g) (b) "Department" means the state transportation

 

department.

 

     (h) (c) "For hire" means for remuneration or reward of any

 

kind, paid or promised, either directly or indirectly.

 

     (d) "Lessor" means a person who leases a motor bus to any

 

other person for the transportation of passengers for hire over the

 

public highways of this state.

 

     (e) "Motor bus" means a self-propelled motor vehicle used in

 

the transportation of passengers and their baggage for hire upon

 

any public highway of this state with a maximum seating capacity of

 

10 persons or more, or 16 persons or more if the limousine

 

transportation act is enacted into law, including the driver. Motor

 

bus does not include a self-propelled motor vehicle having a

 

seating capacity of 15 passengers or less that is used by or on

 

behalf of an employer to transport its employees to and from their

 

place of employment.

 

     (i) "Limousine" means a motor vehicle with a seating capacity

 

of 9 to 15 passengers, including the driver, that is used in the

 

transportation of passengers for hire.

 

     (j) (f) "Motor carrier of passengers" "Motor carrier" means a

 

person who, either directly or through any device or arrangement,

 

holds himself or herself out to the public as willing to undertake

 

for hire to transport passengers for hire by motor limousine or bus

 

from place to place over the public highways of this state. persons

 

who may choose to employ him or her for that purpose or for the

 

purpose of transporting package express, baggage of passengers,


 

newspapers, or United States mail in the same vehicle used to

 

transport passengers.

 

     (k) "Motor vehicle repair facility" means a vehicle repair

 

facility that is registered with the secretary of state under the

 

motor vehicle service and repair act, employs certified mechanics,

 

and has not been excluded from providing inspections under this

 

act.

 

     (l) "Motor vehicle service and repair act" means the motor

 

vehicle service and repair act, 1974 PA 300, MCL 257.1301 to

 

257.1340.

 

     (m) "Original annual certificate" means the first certificate

 

applied for and received by a motor carrier under this act.

 

     (n) (g) "Person" means an individual, sole proprietorship,

 

partnership, association, corporation, or other legal entity, or

 

the lessee, trustee, or receiver of any of these entities; this

 

state; a city, village, township, or county of this state; the

 

federal government; or an employee, officer, or agent of any of

 

these units of government.

 

     (o) (h) "Public highway" means a highway, road, street,

 

avenue, alley, or thoroughfare of any kind, or a bridge, tunnel, or

 

subway used by the public.

 

     (p) "Reinstatement certificate" means a certificate issued to

 

a motor carrier whose original annual certificate or original

 

seasonal certificate was previously revoked under this act.

 

     (q) "Renewal certificate" means a certificate for the

 

continuation of a prior original annual certificate or an original

 

seasonal certificate that remained in good standing, or the


 

continuation of a reinstatement certificate.

 

     (r) "Roster" means a list of limousines or buses to be

 

operated for hire by a motor carrier that is certified or seeking

 

certification under this act and that indicates all of the

 

following information:

 

     (i) The vehicle identification number, make, model, fleet

 

number, and year of each vehicle.

 

     (ii) The beginning and ending dates of service for each

 

seasonal vehicle.

 

     (s) "Safety inspector" means an individual designated by the

 

department to conduct safety inspections under this act.

 

     (t) "Service" means the movement of passengers by limousine or

 

bus.

 

     (u) (i) "The public" means that the part or portion of the

 

general public which that the motor carrier is ready, able,

 

willing, and equipped to serve.

 

     (v) (j) "Through any device or arrangement" means any and all

 

methods, means, agreements, circumstances, operations, or

 

subterfuges under which a person undertakes for hire to conduct,

 

direct, control, or otherwise perform the transportation of

 

passengers by motor limousine or bus service upon the public

 

highways of this state.

 

     Sec. 4. (1) This act shall does not apply to a motor carrier

 

of passengers that is any of the following:

 

     (a) A county, city, township, or village as provided by law,

 

or other authority incorporated under Act No. 55 of the Public Acts

 

of 1963, as amended, being sections 124.351 to 124.359 of the


 

Michigan Compiled Laws. Each authority and governmental agency

 

incorporated under Act No. 55 of the Public Acts of 1963 shall have

 

the exclusive jurisdiction to determine its own contemplated

 

routes, hours of service, estimated transit vehicle miles, costs of

 

public transportation services, and projected capital improvements

 

or projects within its service area.1963 PA 55, MCL 124.351 to

 

124.359.

 

     (b) An authority incorporated under the metropolitan

 

transportation authorities act of 1967, Act No. 204 of the Public

 

Acts of 1967, as amended, being sections 124.401 to 124.426 of the

 

Michigan Compiled Laws, 1967 PA 204, MCL 124.401 to 124.426, or

 

that operates a transportation service pursuant to an interlocal

 

agreement under the urban cooperation act of 1967, Act No. 7 of the

 

Public Acts of the Extra Session of 1967, as amended, being

 

sections 124.501 to 124.512 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.1967 (Ex

 

Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to 124.512.

 

     (c) Operating under a contract entered into pursuant to Act

 

No. 8 of the Public Acts of the Extra Session of 1967, being

 

sections 124.531 to 124.536 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, under

 

1967 (Ex Sess) PA 8, MCL 124.531 to 124.536, or Act No. 35 of the

 

Public Acts of 1951, being sections 124.1 to 124.13 of the Michigan

 

Compiled Laws.1951 PA 35, MCL 124.1 to 124.13.

 

     (d) An authority incorporated under the public transportation

 

authority act, Act No. 196 of the Public Acts of 1986, being

 

sections 124.451 to 124.479 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, or a

 

1986 PA 196, MCL 124.451 to 124.479.

 

     (e) A regional transit authority created under the regional


 

transit authority act, 2012 PA 387, MCL 124.541 to 124.558.

 

     (f) A nonprofit corporation organized under the nonprofit

 

corporation act, Act No. 162 of the Public Acts of 1982, being

 

sections 450.2101 to 450.3192 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, 1982

 

PA 162, MCL 450.2101 to 450.3192, and as defined by sections

 

501(c)(3), (4), (19), or (23) of the internal revenue code of 1986,

 

that provides 1 or both of the following transportation services: .

 

     (i) Services that are restricted only to registered members of

 

the nonprofit corporation.

 

     (ii) Services that are funded under 1951 PA 51, MCL 247.651 to

 

247.675, through programs administered by the department.

 

     (g) (e) An authority financing public improvements to

 

transportation systems under the revenue bond act of 1933, Act No.

 

94 of the Public Acts of 1933, being sections 141.101 to 141.140 of

 

the Michigan Compiled Laws.1933 PA 94, MCL 141.101 to 141.140.

 

     (h) A motor carrier that operates limousines only for the

 

purpose of transporting passengers to and from funerals.

 

     (i) A motor carrier that operates a motor vehicle with a

 

seating capacity of 15 passengers or less, including the driver,

 

that is owned or leased by or on behalf of an employer to transport

 

its employees to and from their place of employment.

 

     (j) A public or private school or a unit of government that

 

owns or operates a school bus, or a privately owned school bus that

 

is under contract with a school district, an independent school

 

district, or a private or charter school, when that bus is used

 

solely for the transportation of pupils to or from school, school-

 

related events, or other uses as provided under the pupil


 

transportation act, 1990 PA 187, MCL 257.1801 to 257.1877.

 

     (2) A motor carrier of passengers that is exempt under

 

subsection (1) shall operate under the requirements of this act

 

when operating outside of the political subdivisions permitted by

 

the authorizing statute or the contract required by the authorizing

 

statute.

 

     Sec. 5. A motor carrier of passengers shall not operate a

 

motor limousine or bus for the transportation of persons for hire

 

on a public highway in this state except in accordance with this

 

act. A motor carrier of passengers shall not operate upon a public

 

highway without first having obtained from the department a

 

certificate. of authority.A motor carrier shall register its roster

 

with the department, and all vehicles on the roster shall comply

 

with the provisions of this act.

 

     Sec. 7. (1) The department shall issue without a hearing a

 

certificate of authority to a motor carrier of passengers

 

authorizing that carrier to provide transportation services subject

 

to the jurisdiction of the department under this act, if the

 

department finds pursuant to section 9(1) that the motor carrier is

 

fit, willing, and able to provide the transportation service

 

authorized by the certificate of authority and to comply in

 

compliance with this act. , and if the applicant presents evidence

 

of the acquisition of personal injury protection and property

 

damage liability insurance as required by section 9(2). The

 

department may attach terms or conditions to the exercise of the

 

privilege granted by a certificate of authority terms or conditions

 

as the department considers appropriate.


 

     (2) An application for a certificate is not complete unless

 

the applicant has complied with all applicable provisions of this

 

act and with the application requirements of the department. If an

 

applicant fails to comply with the application requirements of the

 

department and fails to correct its noncompliance within 60 days

 

after the initial application date, the application shall be

 

canceled and any application fees paid by the applicant are

 

forfeited.

 

     (3) The department shall not issue or renew a certificate to a

 

motor carrier if the motor carrier owes outstanding fees to the

 

department.

 

     (4) A certificate covers a motor carrier and the authorized

 

vehicles listed on the roster of the motor carrier. A motor carrier

 

and at least 1 vehicle on its roster shall remain in good standing

 

during the time period covered by the certificate or the

 

certificate is automatically revoked. To remain in good standing as

 

required by this subsection, a motor carrier shall do all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) Submit an accurate roster to the department and notify the

 

department of any changes to the roster.

 

     (b) Pay all fees by the due date.

 

     (c) Maintain insurance for each authorized vehicle on the

 

roster.

 

     (d) Ensure that each authorized vehicle on the roster complies

 

with the inspection requirements of this act.

 

     (5) If the department denies an application for a certificate,

 

the department shall notify the applicant of the denial in writing


 

and the reasons for the denial. An applicant whose application is

 

denied may, within 30 days after the date of the denial, correct

 

any deficiency in the application and reapply for a certificate

 

without payment of an additional application fee.

 

     Sec. 9. (1) In determining the fitness, willingness, and

 

ability eligibility of an applicant for a certificate of authority

 

to provide transportation service, the department shall consider

 

all of the following: before issuing the original certificate of

 

authority:

 

     (a) The applicant's safety record.Whether the applicant has

 

paid the required fees under section 17.

 

     (b) The Whether the character and condition of each motor

 

limousine or bus and whether on the applicant's roster is such that

 

it may be operated safely upon the public highways based on an

 

inspection conducted by the department under section 16.in

 

accordance with this act.

 

     (c) The applicant's financial ability to provide continuous

 

Whether the applicant has proof of insurance coverage as required

 

by subsection (2) or (3) and to have adequate financial resources

 

in order to pay for damage claims against the applicant.section 10.

 

     (d) Whether the applicant has provided the department with

 

details of any fixed route service that the applicant will provide

 

in this state, if applicable.

 

     (e) Whether the applicant has met all other requirements of

 

this act.

 

     (2) An applicant shall acquire the following liability

 

insurance coverage for acts or omissions of the applicant as a


 

motor carrier of passengers:

 

     (a) Bodily injury and property damage liability insurance with

 

a minimum combined single limit of $5,000,000.00 for all persons

 

injured or for property damage.

 

     (b) Personal protection insurance and property protection

 

insurance as required by chapter 31 of the insurance code of 1956,

 

1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3101 to 500.3119. A motor common carrier of

 

passengers shall maintain the insurance described in this

 

subsection as a condition of maintaining a certificate of authority

 

issued under this act.

 

     (3) The insurance requirements of subsection (2) are waived if

 

the applicant qualifies for and obtains a certificate of self-

 

insurance from the commissioner of the office of financial and

 

insurance regulation under section 3101d of the insurance code of

 

1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3101d.

 

     (4) An applicant that does not satisfy subsection (1) and

 

either subsection (2) or subsection (3) shall not be issued a

 

certificate of authority to provide transportation service under

 

this act.

 

     (2) The department shall not issue a certificate to an

 

applicant that does not meet the eligibility requirements described

 

in subsection (1).

 

     Sec. 10. (1) An applicant shall acquire the following

 

liability insurance coverage for acts or omissions of the applicant

 

as a motor carrier:

 

     (a) For limousines, bodily injury and property damage

 

liability insurance with a minimum combined single limit of


 

$1,500,000.00 for all persons injured or for property damage.

 

     (b) For buses, bodily injury and property damage liability

 

insurance with a minimum combined single limit of $5,000,000.00 for

 

all persons injured or for property damage.

 

     (c) Personal protection insurance and property protection

 

insurance as required by chapter 31 of the insurance code of 1956,

 

1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3101 to 500.3179.

 

     (2) A motor carrier shall maintain the insurance coverage

 

described in subsection (1) as a condition of maintaining a

 

certificate issued under this act. For each authorized seasonal

 

vehicle, a motor carrier shall maintain the insurance coverage

 

described in subsection (1) during the approved seasonal period.

 

     (3) The insurance requirements of subsection (1) are waived if

 

the applicant qualifies for and obtains a certificate of self-

 

insurance from the commissioner of the office of financial and

 

insurance services under section 3101d of the insurance code of

 

1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3101d.

 

     (4) Except as otherwise provided in this act, if a motor

 

carrier cancels the insurance coverage required under this section

 

for any reason or if the coverage level falls below the levels

 

provided in subsection (1), the certificate issued to that motor

 

carrier is automatically revoked.

 

     (5) A motor carrier shall list the department as an additional

 

insured party on all insurance policies required under this act to

 

ensure that the department is notified of all activities related to

 

the policy, including cancellation and replacement.

 

     Sec. 15. The department shall issue a certificate of authority


 

as provided in this act to a motor common carrier of passengers who

 

holds either a valid permit as a contract motor carrier of

 

passengers or a valid certificate of authority as a common motor

 

carrier of passengers under the motor carrier act, Act No. 254 of

 

the Public Acts of 1933, as amended, being sections 475.1 to 479.49

 

of the Michigan Compiled Laws, on the day immediately before the

 

effective date of this act, without making the determination

 

required by section 9(1) if the department determines that the

 

carrier has met the insurance requirements of section 9(2).Each

 

limousine and bus on a motor carrier's roster shall 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 department and primary telephone number on both

 

sides of the limousine or 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 display required under this

 

section shall meet the vehicle identification requirements of 49

 

CFR parts 390 to 399.

 

     Sec. 16. (1) Each To maintain authorized status for a

 

limousine or bus, a motor carrier of passengers who holds a

 

certificate of authority issued under this act shall permit the

 

department to inspect each motor bus once annually, or more

 

frequently if necessary to determine the current character and

 

condition of the motor bus.shall ensure that the limousine or bus

 

passes a valid inspection as provided in this section and that the

 

condition of the limousine or bus is maintained between

 

inspections.


 

     (2) Each motor bus operated by the motor carrier of passengers

 

under its certificate of authority shall pass the safety inspection

 

which meets the department's specifications for safe operating

 

character and condition for the renewal of certificate.

 

     (2) For an inspection of a limousine to be a valid inspection,

 

all of the following shall be satisfied:

 

     (a) The inspection is conducted no later than the end of the

 

month in which the inspection for that limousine expires.

 

     (b) The inspection meets department specifications and

 

standards.

 

     (c) The inspection was conducted at a department-approved

 

motor vehicle repair facility by a properly certified mechanic who

 

certifies that the limousine passed the inspection by signing a

 

department inspection report, or the inspection was conducted by a

 

department safety inspector. A motor carrier that uses a department

 

safety inspector for its inspection is subject to the requirements

 

of subsection (3).

 

     (d) The motor carrier files the department inspection report

 

with the department no later than the end of the month in which the

 

inspection for that limousine expires.

 

     (3) Beginning on January 1, 2016, for an inspection of a bus

 

to be a valid inspection, all of the following shall be satisfied:

 

     (a) An inspection has been scheduled at the department's

 

convenience.

 

     (b) The inspector of the bus indicates on an inspection report

 

prepared by the department that the bus has passed the inspection

 

before the expiration of the previous inspection.


 

     (c) If the inspection is of a seasonal bus, the inspection

 

occurred no earlier than 30 days before the beginning of the

 

approved seasonal period for that bus.

 

     (4) (3) A motor limousine or bus that does not pass a required

 

departmental have a valid inspection under this section shall not

 

be operated over the public highways of this state, and the motor

 

carrier shall remove the limousine or bus from its roster.

 

     (5) A motor carrier is subject to the following penalties for

 

each limousine that does not have a valid inspection as required by

 

this section:

 

     (a) If a motor carrier files the inspection report required

 

under subsection (2)(d) later than the end of the month in which

 

the inspection for that limousine expires, but the department

 

verifies that the inspection was conducted prior to the expiration

 

of the last valid inspection, the motor carrier shall pay a fee of

 

$100.00 for each late inspection report. The department shall

 

revoke the certificate of a motor carrier that does not pay a fee

 

assessed under this subdivision within 30 days after assessment of

 

the fee. For purposes of this subdivision, the filing date of an

 

inspection report is the postmark if the report is sent by mail, or

 

the transmittal date if the report is sent by electronic means.

 

     (b) If a motor carrier fails to obtain a valid inspection

 

before expiration of the last valid inspection, the following

 

penalties shall be assessed by the department:

 

     (i) If the inspection is conducted between 1 and 30 days late,

 

$250.00.

 

     (ii) If the inspection is conducted 31 or more days late,


 

$500.00.

 

     (6) A motor carrier is subject to all of the following

 

penalties for each bus that does not have a valid inspection as

 

required by this section:

 

     (a) A motor carrier shall be assessed a fee of $250.00 for

 

each inspection that is conducted between 1 and 30 days late, and a

 

fee of $500.00 for each inspection that is conducted 31 or more

 

days late. This fee shall be in addition to any fee assessed under

 

subdivision (b). The department may waive the fee provided for in

 

this subdivision if the late inspection was primarily caused by the

 

schedule of the safety inspector. A vehicle that fails an

 

inspection is subject to the late inspection fees described in this

 

subdivision.

 

     (b) The motor carrier shall be assessed a reinspection fee

 

according to the following schedule until the vehicle passes an

 

inspection or is permanently removed from service:

 

     (i) For a first reinspection, $100.00.

 

     (ii) For a second reinspection, $200.00.

 

     (iii) For a third reinspection, $300.00.

 

     (iv) For a fourth reinspection, $400.00 and revocation of

 

authority.

 

     (v) For a fifth and subsequent reinspection, $500.00.

 

     (c) A motor carrier that is assessed a reinspection fee under

 

subdivision (b) shall pay the reinspection fee before the

 

department conducts the reinspection on the vehicle for which the

 

reinspection fee was assessed.

 

     (7) (4) Instead of an inspection by the department under


 

subsection (1), (2) or (3), an applicant for a certificate of

 

authority or a renewal of a certificate of authority may provide

 

evidence of a current year motor limousine or bus inspection by a

 

state, district, or province, or local municipality that has

 

standards comparable to the federal motor carrier safety periodic

 

inspection standards and that has been approved by the department.

 

The department shall may issue a list of the states, districts, or

 

provinces, and local municipalities that have standards comparable

 

to the federal standards promulgated under 49 C.F.R. CFR part 396.

 

     (8) The department may conduct a review of a motor vehicle

 

repair facility to determine if the facility is capable of

 

conducting or is currently conducting limousine inspections

 

according to department specifications and standards. If the

 

department finds that a motor vehicle repair facility is not

 

conducting limousine inspections according to department

 

specifications and standards, the department may decline to accept

 

inspections from that facility as valid inspections.

 

     (9) A motor carrier shall maintain a copy of a current valid

 

inspection report on board each limousine or bus at all times, and

 

the report shall be made available for review upon demand by an

 

authorized federal, state, or local official.

 

     (10) If the department has reasonable cause to believe that a

 

limousine or bus is unsafe for operation or has not been inspected

 

as required by this act or rules promulgated under this act, a

 

department safety inspector may inspect the limousine or bus. If

 

the limousine or bus is not in compliance with this act, the

 

department may require the motor carrier to place the limousine or


 

bus out of service until all violations have been corrected or

 

eliminated.

 

     (11) Upon satisfactory completion of a valid inspection of a

 

limousine or bus as required by this act and payment of all

 

required fees by the motor carrier, the department shall issue a

 

decal indicating the expiration date of the inspection for that

 

limousine or bus. A decal issued under this subsection is property

 

of this state. A motor carrier shall not use a limousine or bus

 

displaying an expired decal to provide for-hire passenger service.

 

     (12) A motor carrier shall not operate a limousine or bus over

 

the public highways of this state if that limousine or bus does not

 

have a properly displayed current decal issued by the department

 

under subsection (11).

 

     (13) The department may require a motor carrier to return a

 

decal issued under subsection (11) to the department if the

 

limousine or bus upon which that decal was displayed is removed

 

from the motor carrier's roster by the department or the motor

 

carrier. A motor carrier that fails to return a decal within 30

 

days after a request by the department shall pay a $50.00 fee.

 

     (14) The department may waive the inspection and renewal

 

requirements of this act for a limousine or a bus that is not being

 

used in this state for a motor carrier that is located outside of

 

this state if the motor carrier submits a roster that indicates

 

which of its vehicles will be used exclusively outside of this

 

state for at least 1 year. The roster must be submitted before the

 

affected vehicle ceases to comply with this act. The motor carrier

 

may put the limousine or bus back into service in this state after


 

at least 1 year by submitting a revised roster and complying with

 

all other provisions of this act.

 

     (15) Until January 1, 2016, an inspection that was conducted

 

in accordance with this act or the limousine transportation act,

 

1990 PA 271, MCL 257.1901 to 257.1939, before January 1, 2016 shall

 

be considered a valid inspection.

 

     Sec. 17. (1) An applicant for an original annual certificate

 

shall pay to the department a filing fee of $300.00 and a fee of

 

$50.00 times the number of limousines or buses to be used by the

 

applicant to provide transportation for hire under this act. The

 

applicant shall submit its roster to the department at the time of

 

payment.

 

     (2) (1) Each A certificate issued under this act expires on

 

March 1 of each year. No later than the last day of February each

 

year, a motor carrier of passengers who that holds a certificate of

 

authority issued under this act shall pay to the department an

 

annual renewal fee equal to $25.00 $50.00 times the number of motor

 

limousines and buses used exclusively by the carrier to provide

 

transportation of passengers for hire and that meet the annual

 

renewal inspection requirements of section 16. An annual renewal

 

fee of $500.00 shall be paid for any motor bus not meeting the

 

annual renewal inspection requirement of section 16.subject to this

 

act. The motor carrier shall submit its roster to the department at

 

the time of payment. The department may require a carrier to submit

 

additional documentation as part of the annual renewal process to

 

ensure compliance with this act.

 

     (3) (2) A motor carrier of passengers who that holds a


 

certificate of authority issued under this act to provide

 

transportation for hire that wishes to have additional limousines

 

or buses authorized under its certificate between annual renewal

 

periods shall pay to the department a fee of $25.00 per motor bus

 

for each additional motor bus acquired during the year for the

 

purpose of the current year inspection required by section

 

16.$50.00 times the number of limousines or buses being added to

 

its roster. The motor carrier shall submit its updated roster to

 

the department at the time of payment. A motor carrier shall ensure

 

that each limousine or bus added to a roster under this subsection

 

complies with all requirements of this act.

 

     (3) All certificates granted by the department terminate on

 

the last day of February of each year unless renewed on or before

 

that date with payment of the fee prescribed by subsection (1). The

 

certificate of any motor carrier of passengers who is delinquent in

 

payment of fees required to be paid by this section is canceled and

 

revoked on or after March 1 of the year for which renewal should

 

have been made pursuant to the requirements of this section, and

 

the motor carrier of passengers shall be prohibited from operating

 

any of its vehicles upon or over the highways of this state. All

 

privileges granted the motor carrier of passengers under the

 

expiring certificate shall cease.

 

     (4) A motor carrier that requests to reinstate on its roster a

 

limousine or bus that was previously removed from its roster upon

 

request of the motor carrier or by action of the department shall

 

pay a reinstatement fee of $100.00 in addition to all other fees

 

required under this act.


 

     (5) The certificate of a motor carrier that does not comply

 

with this section shall be automatically revoked on March 1, and

 

the motor carrier must apply for and be issued a new certificate

 

before resuming service.

 

     Sec. 23. If there The department may grant an emergency

 

certificate to a motor carrier if there is an immediate and urgent

 

need for the transportation of passengers to a point or between

 

points within this state. , the department may grant upon a proper

 

application temporary authority for that service by a person having

 

a certificate of authority or by an applicant for a certificate of

 

authority. A temporary authority An emergency certificate granted

 

by the department under this section, unless suspended or revoked

 

for good cause, shall be is valid for the time which specified by

 

the department. specifies, but not to exceed 90 days.The department

 

may waive any or all fees or other requirements of this act for a

 

certificate granted under this section. The department may also

 

exempt a special event of statewide significance from this act with

 

prior approval.

 

     Sec. 27. (1) A motor carrier of passengers holding a

 

certificate of authority for regular route service between points

 

within this state may apply shall notify the department in writing

 

no less than 60 days before it plans to discontinue all or a

 

portion of its service under this its certificate. of authority by

 

filing written application with the department, payment of the fees

 

described in section 25, and within Within 10 days after filing

 

notifying the application publish department, the carrier shall

 

post notice of the application once a day for 2 different days in a


 

newspaper of general circulation published in each county to which

 

the service proposed to be discontinued extends. Within 20 days

 

after the last date of publication, any person opposing the

 

application shall file written notice of protest with the

 

department. If the application is not opposed, the motor carrier of

 

passengers holding a certificate of authority may immediately

 

discontinue the service. If the application is opposed, the

 

department, within 20 days, may conduct a hearing on the

 

application, with at least 10 days' notice to all interested

 

parties.discontinuation of service on its website and in all

 

ticketing locations.

 

     (2) The department shall grant an application for authority to

 

discontinue if the applicant demonstrates that intrastate revenue

 

per mile derived from the route or routes proposed to be

 

discontinued is less than the fully allocated cost per mile

 

including depreciation. If the department's final determination on

 

the application is not issued within 90 days after the last date of

 

publication, the applicant may discontinue the service described in

 

the application.

 

     (3) A motor carrier of passengers holding a certificate of

 

authority for service within this state other than regular route

 

service may apply to discontinue all or a portion of its service

 

under this certificate of authority by filing written application

 

with the department and payment of the fees as described in section

 

25.

 

     Sec. 29. (1) A motor carrier of passengers authorized to

 

provide transportation regular route service under this act shall


 

not abandon or discontinue a service established under this act

 

without the approval of notification to the department , except, if

 

applicable, as provided in section 27(2). as described in section

 

27. If a motor carrier of passengers discontinues service for more

 

than 10 days without the previous approval of notification to the

 

department, authorizing the discontinuance, the certificate of

 

authority issued to that carrier shall be considered automatically

 

revoked without any further action upon the part of by the

 

department.

 

     (2) If the insurance coverage required under this act is

 

canceled for any reason, the certificate of authority issued to

 

that carrier shall be considered revoked without any further action

 

by the department.

 

     Sec. 32. The department may use any and all available legal

 

and equitable remedies of a civil nature to enforce this act, an

 

order issued, or a rule promulgated pursuant to this act. The

 

department may employ such experts, assistants, inspectors, and

 

other personnel as may be necessary subject to civil service rules,

 

to enable it to administer and enforce this act. An employee of the

 

department shall not ask for or receive any fee from a person for

 

the taking of acknowledgments or any other service. State and local

 

police officers shall enforce this act and the rules promulgated

 

pursuant to this act. A police officer or a peace officer may

 

arrest, on sight or upon warrant, any person found violating or

 

having violated a provision of this act or a rule promulgated

 

pursuant to this act. The attorney general of the this state and

 

the prosecuting attorneys of the counties of this state shall


 

prosecute all violations of this act. When A violation of this act

 

is violated, the offense may be prosecuted in any jurisdiction in

 

or through which a motor the limousine or bus implicated was

 

present at the time of the violation.

 

     Sec. 33. A person subject to this act who operates a passenger

 

service without obtaining a certificate of authority required under

 

this act or without meeting the insurance requirements provided in

 

this act shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500.00. Each

 

violation constitutes a separate offense.

 

     Sec. 34. A motor carrier, of passengers, or an officer or

 

agent of a motor carrier, of passengers, who that requires or

 

permits a driver or operator to drive or operate a motor limousine

 

or bus in violation of this act, or a rule promulgated under this

 

act, is guilty of a misdemeanor , punishable by a fine of not more

 

than $500.00 , or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or

 

both.

 

     Sec. 35. The department may alter, suspend, or revoke a

 

certificate of authority issued under this act if the department

 

determines in a contested case hearing held pursuant to under

 

chapter 4 of the administrative procedures act of 1969, Act No. 306

 

of the Public Acts of 1969, as amended, being sections 1969 PA 306,

 

MCL 24.271 to 24.287, of the Michigan Compiled Laws, that a person

 

motor carrier to whom which a certificate of authority has been

 

issued has willfully violated or refused to comply with this act.

 

     Sec. 38. This act does not prohibit a county, city, township,

 

authority, or village from adopting rules or an ordinance or

 

resolution that is more restrictive than the provisions of this


 

act. If an ordinance or resolution requires a vehicle safety

 

inspection, the county, city, township, authority, or village that

 

adopted the ordinance or resolution shall use the vehicle safety

 

inspection form provided by the department.

 

     Sec. 39. The department may promulgate rules to implement this

 

act pursuant to under the administrative procedures act of 1969,

 

Act No. 306 of the Public Acts of 1969, as amended, being sections

 

1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328. of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

 

     Enacting section 1. Sections 6, 11, 13, 21, 25, 31, and 41 of

 

the motor bus transportation act, 1982 PA 432, MCL 474.106,

 

474.111, 474.113, 474.121, 474.125, 474.131, and 474.141, are

 

repealed.