Date: June 23, 2011
Fifty-Six Buses Inspected, Twenty-Eight Citations Issues, Five Buses taken out of Service
Yosemite National Park held a two day surprise bus inspection in the park on June 8 and 9, 2011. This was done in support of “Operation Road Check” and organized as a multi-agency task force with California Highway Patrol (CHP), San Francisco Police Department, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the California Public Utility Commission. A total of fifty-six buses were inspected in the park on June 8 and 9.
The inspections involved mechanical and safety inspections, checks of driver’s qualifications, and checking of the company’s authority to transport passengers. Of the 56 vehicles inspected, 23 vehicles were released with no violations. Another 28 vehicles were issued minor violation notices for repairs. In addition, a total of 24 violation notices were issued to companies and bus-drivers. A total of 5 buses were placed out of service for mechanical deficiencies; 5 drivers were ordered out of service for driver’s logbook violations and driving without the proper classification, and 2 buses ordered out of service for not having California authority to transport passengers.
“Operation Road Check” is a national program that is considered to be the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial vehicles in the world. As part of the program, approximately 14 trucks or buses are inspected, on average, every minute from Canada to Mexico during a 72-hour period in early June. Since 1988, over one million trucks and buses have been inspected as part of “Operation Road Check.” The program has provided educational literature and numerous safety events to educate people about the importance of safe commercial vehicle operations and roadside inspection programs.
