Vehicles of charter-party carriers of passengers and passenger stage corporations.

Existing law provides for the Department of Motor Vehicles to register vehicles used on the public streets and highways and to verify insurance coverage. Existing law provides for the Public Utilities Commission to regulate certain classes of passenger carriers, including charter-party carriers of passengers and passenger stage corporations, and to issue certificates or permits in that regard. Existing law requires the Department of the California Highway Patrol to regulate the safe operation of certain classes of vehicles, including buses and modified limousines. Existing law requires charter-party carriers of passengers and passenger stage corporations to report the vehicles they use in their operations to the commission. A violation of provisions governing charter-party carriers of passengers and passenger stage corporations is a crime. This bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles, in issuing or renewing a commercial vehicle registration, to require the owner of a bus, limousine, or modified limousine used by a charter-party carrier of passengers or a passenger stage corporation to disclose the name of the carrier or corporation that will be using the vehicle in its operations. The bill would require the Public Utilities Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Motor Vehicles, to annually verify that the buses, limousines, and modified limousines used by a carrier or corporation have been reported to the commission by the carrier or corporation, would require the carriers and corporations to provide the commission with vehicle registration information for each vehicle, and would prohibit the commission from issuing or renewing a noncompliant carrier's or corporation's permit, certificate, or authority. The bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to notify the Public Utilities Commission when a charter-party carrier of passengers or a passenger stage corporation first registers a bus, limousine, or modified limousine with the department, and to provide information to the commission that will allow the commission to identify the vehicle. The bill would require the commission, with respect to those newly registered buses, limousines, or modified limousines, to ensure that the vehicles meet all statutory and regulatory requirements for safe operation. The bill, upon the commission becoming aware of a bus, limousine, or modified limousine of a charter-party carrier of passengers or a passenger stage corporation that has not been reported to the commission by the carrier or corporation, would require the commission to immediately take steps to require the carrier or corporation to update its reporting of vehicles to the commission and to request the Department of the California Highway Patrol to conduct a safety inspection of the vehicle. All of these provisions of the bill would become operative on January 1, 2018. Because a violation of certain provisions of the bill would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.