U.S. DOT fines Chinatown bus company

The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) has fined Fung Wah Bus Transportation Inc., $31,110 for violating federal safety regulations. In September, a bus operated by Fung Wah overturned on a freeway ramp outside Boston, injuring 48 people, some seriously. Following the crash, the FMCSA investigated Fung Wah and found the company to be in violation of multiple federal regulations, initiating enforcement action for using drivers unable to speak the English language and drivers that exceeded the posted speed limit. Federal authorities visited the company eight times over the past three years, including a May 2006 review that resulted in a $12,950 fine for safety and traffic violations. Fung Wah, based in New York's Chinatown, will have the opportunity to contest the alleged violations and the amount of penalties in an agency proceeding.