The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has instructed field personnel to refrain for 60 days from giving tickets for violations of the new hours-of-service regulations--except for egregious actions, according to information from the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC). "Although DOT has asked state government enforcement personnel to adopt the same posture, it is important to note that, while the DOT directive is binding on federal enforcement personnel, it may not be binding on state enforcers," says Cliff Harvison, NTTC president. "State jurisdictions have always had relative autonomy in choosing their enforcement policies."
The HOS regulations become effective January 4, 2004. Additionally, FMCSA clarifies that the discretionary enforcement applies only to those portions of the regulations that were amended.