HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORT; INCREASE PENALTY
House Bill 5515
Sponsor: Rep. Ruth Ann Jamnick
Committee: Transportation
Complete to 12-13-01
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5515 AS INTRODUCED 12-12-01
House Bill 5515 would amend the Motor Carrier Safety Act to increase the penalty for transporting hazardous materials.
Currently, there is a penalty of not more than $500, for a convicted driver (or operator, owner, or lessees) of a bus, truck, truck-tractor, or trailer, or certain other motor vehicles, who requires or permits the transport of a package that must be labeled as a hazardous material under 49 C.F.R. parts 100 and 180. The bill would increase the penalty so that a convicted driver would be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or a fine of not more than $500, or both, for each violation.
Further, the bill specifies that a person or entity could not transport or require, or permit, or allow to be transported hazardous material for which a placard is required under federal rules, if the person that is transporting does not have a hazardous material endorsement on his or her operator's or chauffeur's license. A person or entity who violated this prohibition would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or a fine of not more than $500, or both, for each violation.
MCL 480.17c
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.