65-15-128 - Passenger transportation services.
65-15-128. Passenger transportation services.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this title or title 7, chapter 51, to the contrary, each for-hire motor carrier providing passenger transportation service in a motor vehicle or motor vehicles designed or constructed to accommodate and transport passengers, eight (8) or more in number, exclusive of the driver, shall at a minimum:
(1) Maintain a policy of liability insurance in the amount of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) in value, which shall bind the obligors under the policy to make compensation for injury to persons and for loss of or damage to property resulting from the negligent operation by the driver;
(2) Conduct a program of mandatory random drug testing for the operators of its motor vehicles in accordance with regulations promulgated by the United States department of transportation;
(3) Require the operators of its motor vehicles to submit to physical examination every two (2) years, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the United States department of transportation;
(4) Submit each motor vehicle operated in the capacity as a passenger transportation service to an annual safety examination, to be conducted by the department of safety; and
(5) Comply with all other requirements deemed necessary to protect the public safety and welfare as specified by the department of safety in its promulgation of rules and regulations to effectuate such purpose.
(b) The commissioner of safety is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this section. The rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
[Acts 2007, ch. 329, §§ 1, 2; 2009, ch. 321, § 29.]