§ 39-1-23.1. Motor carrier enforcement program created - Recovery of expenses through a percentage of fines collected from motor carriers. (a) The administrator has been charged under this title with the responsibility of promoting adequate, economical and efficient service by motor carriers and reasonable charges therefore without unjust discriminations, undue preferences, or advantages, or unfair or destructive competitive practices. This legislative charge further requires that the administrator improve the relations between, and coordinate transportation by, and the regulations between all modes of transportation provided by the various classes of motor carriers; develop and preserve a highway transportation system properly adapted to the needs of the commerce of the state; and promote safety upon its publicly used highways in the interest of its citizens.

(b) It is hereby declared that in order to enforce the statutes, rules and regulations under which the administrator carries out his or her efforts to fulfill the mandates provided in subsection (a), appropriations shall be provided, pursuant to the assessment provision contained in § 39-1-23, for the purposes of providing the administrator with the financial means to maintain an enforcement presence in the transportation industry. The appropriations shall be used by the administrator to create and maintain a field enforcement staff of at least two (2) inspector-auditors whose sole responsibilities shall be to promote and compel compliance with all applicable motor carrier related statutes, rules and regulations. In addition to compensation for inspector-auditors, the motor carrier enforcement appropriations may be used to purchase any materials or equipment necessary for this field enforcement staff and any training or educational programs germane to its regulatory functions.

History of Section. (P.L. 1992, ch. 133, art. 34, § 3; P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 40, § 116; P.L. 1997, ch. 326, § 103; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 29, § 1.)