FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov

CHP, Sgt Les Bishop 707.648.4180 x.277 Lmbishop@chp.ca.gov

PUC JOINS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SAN JOSE AIRPORT ON STRIKE TEAM TO ENFORCE SAFETY COMPLIANCE
FOR PASSENGER CARRIERS

SAN FRANCISCO, May 10, 2006 -- The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC), California Highway Patrol (CHP), Jose Police Department - Airport Division, and San Jose International Airport Landside Operations today are partnering to conduct unannounced inspections of limousines, shuttles, vans and buses at the San Jose International Airport on May 10, 2006, from
7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Shuttles, vans, buses, and limousines will be inspected by PUC investigators to determine if there are any violations of PUC rules and regulations, such as lack of operating license and/or insurance. The vehicles will also be directed to the CHP Motor Carrier Safety Unit for safety inspection (brakes, lights, steering, etc). San Jose International Airport Landside Operations will also be present to check on compliance of airport rules. These vehicles will be pulled over only if they are without passengers in order to mitigate passenger inconvenience.

"We hope that our efforts will decrease the operations of illegal passenger carriers and demonstrate the PUC's commitment to public safety and enforcement," said Richard W. Clark, director of the PUC's Consumer Protection and Safety Division. "We are grateful for the participation of the airport, CHP, and the San Jose Police Department in this effort as we all work to protect California's consumers."

The PUC will issue Misdemeanor Warnings to those operating without a permit from the PUC and will also issue Notice to Correct Violations. The PUC will then follow-up with an audit of the carrier's records and depending on the results of the audit, may issue administrative citations imposing fines up to $20,000.

CHP will be conducting vehicle safety and compliance inspections to those same vehicles.

More information on the PUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

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UPDATE

As a result of this inspection, the PUC interviewed 79 vehicles.  Of the 79, 40 did not have any PUC violation.  Of the 39 that had violations, five were issued misdemeanor warnings for operating without a valid permit issued by the PUC.  The remaining 34 were for either documentation problems (waybills) or vehicle markings (no TCP #). Of the vehicles inspected, 52 were limos, 26 were shuttles and one was an SUV.