Commercial Passenger Vehicles: Safety Inspection of Commercial Buses and
Vans Entering the United States From Mexico (Letter Report, 08/08/97,
GAO/RCED-97-194).

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed whether commercial
passenger vehicles entering the United States from Mexico are meeting
U.S. safety standards, focusing on: (1) the number and types of
commercial passenger vehicles entering U.S. border states from Mexico;
and (2) actions taken by the Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) and
U.S. border states to provide safety inspections for commercial
passenger vehicles arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.

GAO noted that: (1) according to the U.S. Customs Service, there were
about 218,000 commercial passenger vehicle crossings from Mexico to the
United States, a daily average of 598 crossings, from June 1996 through
May 1997, the latest data available; (2) about 85 percent of these
crossings occurred at four crossing points, two in California and two in
Texas; (3) while Customs records the number of vehicle crossings from
Mexico into the United States, many of these vehicles may cross the
border several times a day (e.g., airport shuttles) and each crossing is
included in Customs' vehicle crossing count; (4) furthermore, Customs
does not record the identity of individual vehicles, the type of vehicle
(e.g., motor coaches or vans), or whether the vehicle is owned by either
a U.S. or Mexican carrier; (5) as a result, no reliable information
exists either on the actual number of Mexican-owned commercial passenger
vehicles that enter the United States or on how many of each type of
vehicle enters the country--information needed to assess the extent to
which these vehicles are safe and are operated safely; (6) FHwA and
state inspectors have carried out few safety inspections of commercial
passenger vehicles entering the United States from Mexico primarily
because their emphasis has been on inspecting commercial trucks; (7)
FHwA inspectors in Texas and state inspectors in California conducted
border safety inspections of 528 commercial passenger vehicles from
January through May 1997 out of an estimated 90,000 crossings; (8) about
22 percent of these commercial passenger vehicles were placed out of
service for serious safety violations, such as steering or brake
problems; (9) FHwA inspectors in California and state inspectors in
Texas had not conducted any inspections as of May 1997; and (10) the
dearth of safety inspections, coupled with insufficient information on
the number and kinds of Mexican-owned commercial passenger vehicles
entering the United States, precludes any assessment of whether these
commercial passenger vehicles are safe and are being operated safely.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  RCED-97-194
     TITLE:  Commercial Passenger Vehicles: Safety Inspection of 
             Commercial Buses and Vans Entering the United States From
             Mexico
      DATE:  08/08/97
   SUBJECT:  Motor vehicle safety
             Motor vehicle standards
             Inspection
             Data collection
             Transportation statistics
             Motor carrier operations
             International relations
             Traffic regulation
IDENTIFIER:  Mexico
             Texas
             California
             North American Free Trade Agreement
             NAFTA
             
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Cover
================================================================ COVER


Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation,
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of
Representatives

August 1997

COMMERCIAL PASSENGER VEHICLES -
SAFETY INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL
BUSES AND VANS ENTERING THE UNITED
STATES FROM MEXICO

GAO/RCED-97-194

Safety Inspection of Mexican Buses and Vans

(342931)


Abbreviations
=============================================================== ABBREV

  CVSA - Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
  FHWA - Federal Highway Administration
  NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement
  DOT - Department of Transportation

Letter
=============================================================== LETTER


B-275794

August 8, 1997

The Honorable Thomas Petri
Chairman, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
House of Representatives

Dear Mr.  Chairman: 

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), among other things,
provided for the U.S.-Mexican border to be opened on January 1, 1997,
to nationwide, scheduled commercial passenger bus and van service
from Mexico.  Prior to that date, only Mexican commercial passenger
carriers engaged in tour and charter service were allowed to travel
beyond U.S.  commercial zones (designated areas extending several
miles from the northern limits of U.S.  border towns).  However,
increased access for commercial passenger vehicles providing
scheduled service from Mexico has not yet occurred because of
continuing negotiations over commercial motor vehicle safety measures
to be implemented by Mexico. 

In response to your concerns about whether commercial passenger
vehicles entering the United States from Mexico are meeting U.S. 
safety standards, this report describes (1) the number and types of
commercial passenger vehicles entering U.S.  border states from
Mexico and (2) actions taken by the U.S.  Department of
Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and U.S. 
border states to provide safety inspections for commercial passenger
vehicles arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. 


   RESULTS IN BRIEF
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :1

According to the U.S.  Customs Service, there were about 218,000
commercial passenger vehicle crossings from Mexico to the United
States (a daily average of 598 crossings) from June 1996 though May
1997 (the latest data available).  About 85 percent of these
crossings occurred at four crossing points:  two in California and
two in Texas.\1 While Customs records the number of vehicle crossings
from Mexico into the United States, many of these vehicles may cross
the border several times a day (e.g., airport shuttles) and each
crossing is included in Customs' vehicle crossing count. 
Furthermore, Customs does not record the identity of individual
vehicles, the type of vehicle (e.g., motor coaches or vans), or
whether the vehicle is owned by either a U.S.  or Mexican carrier. 
As a result, no reliable information exists either on the actual
number of Mexican-owned commercial passenger vehicles that enter the
United States or on how many of each type of vehicle enters the
country--information needed to assess the extent to which these
vehicles are safe and are operated safely. 

FHWA\2 and state inspectors have carried out few safety inspections
of commercial passenger vehicles entering the United States from
Mexico primarily because their emphasis has been on inspecting
commercial trucks.  FHWA inspectors in Texas and state inspectors in
California conducted border safety inspections of 528 commercial
passenger vehicles from January through May 1997 out of an estimated
90,000 crossings.  About 22 percent of these commercial passenger
vehicles were placed out of service for serious safety violations,
such as steering or brake problems.  FHWA inspectors in California
and state inspectors in Texas had not conducted any inspections as of
May 1997.  The dearth of safety inspections, coupled with
insufficient information on the number and kinds of Mexican-owned
commercial passenger vehicles entering the United States, precludes
any assessment of whether these commercial passenger vehicles are
safe and are being operated safely. 


--------------------
\1 Because Arizona and New Mexico receive less than 2 percent of the
northbound commercial passenger vehicle traffic, information on these
states is not included in this report. 

\2 FHWA does not routinely conduct roadside inspections at fixed
locations but has approved 2-year positions for several temporary
safety inspectors who will inspect commercial trucks and, to a
limited extent, commercial passenger vehicles entering the United
States from Mexico. 


   BACKGROUND
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :2

NAFTA, which was agreed to by Canada, Mexico, and the United States
in 1992 and implemented in the United States through legislation in
1993, contained a timetable for the phased removal of trade barriers
for goods and services among the three countries.  Beginning on
January 1, 1997, Mexican passenger carriers that own and operate
commercial buses and vans were to have been permitted to apply for
the authority to provide scheduled service between Mexico and the
United States.  However, this increased access has not occurred
because U.S.-Mexico negotiations concerning commercial motor vehicle
safety measures to be implemented by Mexico have not been completed. 
In contrast, the U.S.-Canada border has been open to commercial
passenger vehicles for many years. 

Until expanded access is granted, only commercial passenger vehicles
from Mexico that are engaged in tour and charter service may travel
beyond the U.S.  commercial zones along the border (generally areas
between 3 and 20 miles from the U.S.  border towns' northern limits,
depending on each town's population).  As of May 1997, only seven
Mexican companies had received FHWA operating authority to provide
tour and charter services beyond the commercial zones.  However,
these and other Mexican commercial passenger vehicles may operate to
any destination within the commercial zones.  Commercial passenger
vehicles entering the United States from Mexico include motor
coaches, minibuses, school-bus-type vehicles, and vans (see fig.  1). 

   Figure 1:  Types of Commercial
   Passenger Vehicles Providing
   Cross-Border Service From
   Mexico

   (See figure in printed
   edition.)

Although there are 29 locations where commercial passenger vehicles
from Mexico may enter the United States, about 85 percent of the
commercial passenger vehicles enter at 4 major crossings:  2 in
California (San Diego\3 and Otay Mesa) and 2 in Texas (Hidalgo and
Laredo).
(See fig.  2.)

   Figure 2:  Locations and
   Numbers of Commercial Passenger
   Vehicle Crossing Points

   (See figure in printed
   edition.)

Source:  Based on information from the U.S.  Customs Service. 

Commercial passenger vehicles enter the United States through the
U.S.  Customs Service's passenger vehicle ports of entry, which are
physically separate from the crossings that commercial trucks use to
enter the United States.  Customs usually has one lane of passenger
vehicle traffic dedicated to commercial passenger vehicles, which
facilitates the processing of passengers through both the Customs and
Immigration and Naturalization Service inspection points. 

To encourage safer commercial motor vehicle operation in the United
States and to help achieve uniformity in commercial motor vehicle
standards throughout the nation, FHWA has issued regulations on
vehicle safety standards (e.g., tires, lights, brakes) and financial
and operating standards (e.g., registration, insurance, commercial
driver's license, and hours of service requirements).  FHWA's safety
regulations on commercial motor vehicles apply to, among other
things, all vehicles designed to transport more than 15 passengers,
including the driver, that operate within the United States.\4 For
the most part, the states have adopted the federal standards.  FHWA
maintains a presence in all states to promote commercial vehicle
safety and ensures that state laws and regulations are compatible
with federal commercial vehicle safety regulations.  FHWA also
provides policy direction and supports state-developed enforcement
strategies through a motor carrier safety grant program. 

Although each commercial vehicle involved in interstate commerce on
U.S.  roads must meet all federal vehicle, operator, and financial
standards, Canada, Mexico, and the United States have adopted
roadside inspection procedures that focus on the most critical safety
items.  These inspection procedures, developed by the Commercial
Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA),\5 focus on those standards that, if
not met, would lead to a commercial vehicle being placed out of
service for serious safety violations.\6 FHWA and state safety
inspectors use these procedures when inspecting commercial passenger
vehicles entering the United States from Mexico.  Commercial
passenger vehicles that are placed out of service are halted until
needed repairs are made.  Safety inspectors who are qualified to
conduct inspections of commercial trucks are also qualified to
inspect commercial passenger vehicles. 

There are two CVSA procedures that have been used to inspect
commercial passenger vehicles entering the United States from Mexico: 
level-1 and level-2 inspections.  The level-1 inspection is the most
rigorous--a full inspection of both the driver and the vehicle.  The
driver inspection includes ensuring that the driver has a valid
commercial driver's license, is medically qualified, and has an
updated log showing the driver's hours of service.  The vehicle
inspection includes a visual inspection and an extensive
undercarriage inspection that covers the brakes, frame, and
suspension.  The level-2 inspection is similar to the level-1
inspection, except that it does not include an extensive
undercarriage inspection. 


--------------------
\3 The San Diego crossing is also known as San Ysidro. 

\4 Commercial passenger vehicles designed to transport 15 or fewer
passengers are not subject to FHWA vehicle safety standards; however,
they generally still must meet FHWA financial and operating
standards. 

\5 CVSA is a not-for-profit association of state, provincial, and
federal officials formed to improve commercial vehicle safety.  CVSA
pursues this goal, in part, through working with state, federal, and
provincial governments to achieve uniformity, compatibility, and
reciprocity among regulatory and enforcement agencies. 

\6 Financial and other penalties may be imposed for other violations
of federal requirements. 


   LIMITED INFORMATION EXISTS ON
   COMMERCIAL PASSENGER VEHICLES
   ENTERING THE UNITED STATES FROM
   MEXICO
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :3

Customs data show that, from June 1996 through May 1997 (the latest
data available), there were an average of about 598 northbound
commercial passenger vehicle crossings each day along the U.S.-Mexico
border (see table 1).  However, counting practices vary somewhat
among the ports of entry and, as a result, the traffic levels
reported by Customs are understated by an unknown amount.  At the San
Diego and Otay Mesa, California, crossings, all commercial passenger
vehicles, regardless of the vehicle capacity, are funneled through a
single lane for commercial passenger vehicles.  However, in Texas,
Customs agents require commercial vans to use the lanes provided for
private passenger vehicles.  They told us that they do not always
attempt to determine whether the vans are commercial or private
passenger vans, which results in some commercial vans being counted
as private passenger vehicles. 



                                Table 1
                
                Northbound Commercial Passenger Vehicle
                  Crossings at the Four Busiest Border
                   Crossing Locations, From June 1996
                            Through May 1997

                                              Percentage
                                 Number of      of total         Daily
Border location                  crossings     crossings       average
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
San Diego, Calif.                   99,782            46           273
Otay Mesa, Calif.                   19,646             9            54
Hidalgo, Tex.                       40,338            18           111
Laredo, Tex.                        24,782            11            68
======================================================================
Subtotal                           184,548            85           506
All others                          33,845            15            93
======================================================================
Total                              218,393           100           598
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Note:  As described in the text, the number of crossings may be
understated somewhat.  Columns may not add to totals because of
rounding. 

Source:  Based on U.S.  Customs Service data. 

Customs officials in Texas told us that the traffic counts are used
primarily to determine the level of staffing that is needed at each
crossing point.  They also told us that they permit commercial
passenger vans to enter the United States through private passenger
lanes because, given their smaller size, the vans do not require as
much inspection as motor coaches do.  Also, according to a Customs
official, it is difficult for Customs agents to identify whether some
vans are carrying paying passengers or private passengers. 

While Customs records the number of crossings, it does not keep
records on the number or type of individual commercial passenger
vehicles that cross the border.\7 Customs, FHWA, and state officials
told us that they believe that most of the northbound cross-border
commercial passenger traffic is of a repeat nature, such as airport
and shopping center shuttle services.  Thus, while Customs' records
show an average of 598 crossings daily, the number of individual
commercial vehicles is smaller, but, again, to an unknown degree. 

In California, federal and state officials told us that most traffic
at the San Diego crossing consists of motor coaches and
school-bus-type vehicles providing shuttle service to destinations
such as bus terminals, grocery stores, and parking lots just inside
the U.S.  border.  Federal officials stated that few commercial vans
enter the country at the San Diego crossing.  Rather, most vans, such
as those providing shuttle service to the San Diego airport, enter at
the Otay Mesa crossing.  Officials told us that some commercial
passenger vehicles at both crossings may enter the United States up
to 10 times a day. 

In Texas, federal officials told us that most of the Laredo
cross-border traffic consists of U.S.-based carriers providing
scheduled service to Dallas and Houston.  A Customs official in
Laredo estimated that while only 4 or 5 commercial passenger vans
cross the border on weekdays, approximately 50 or 60 vans cross the
border during the weekend.  According to one Customs official, most
commercial passenger vehicles at the Hidalgo, Texas, crossing are
motor coaches; an estimated 90 percent of these vehicles travel to
destinations within the commercial zone to the nearby border city of
McAllen. 


--------------------
\7 According to U.S.  Customs officials, the U.S.  Customs Service is
not required by statute or regulation to count vehicles that enter
the United States from Mexico. 


   FHWA AND STATES HAVE CONDUCTED
   FEW SAFETY INSPECTIONS, CITING
   HIGHER PRIORITIES
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :4

Relatively few safety inspections of commercial passenger vehicles
have taken place in the past year.\8 FHWA inspectors in Texas and
state inspectors in California conducted border safety inspections of
528 commercial passenger vehicles from January through May 1997 out
of an estimated 90,000 border crossings during that period.  (Because
many commercial passenger vehicles may enter the United States
several times a day, inspectors would not typically inspect the same
vehicle each time it crossed the border.) About 22 percent of the
vehicles inspected were placed out of service.  Some of these were
vehicles owned and operated by U.S.  carriers.  In comparison, the
out-of-service rate for the 10,000 U.S.  commercial passenger
vehicles inspected on the nation's roads from October 1996 through
June 1997 was about 10 percent.  FHWA inspectors in California and
state inspectors in Texas had not conducted any inspections as of May
1997.  The dearth of safety inspections, coupled with insufficient
information on the number and kinds of Mexican commercial passenger
vehicles entering the United States, precludes any assessment of
whether these commercial passenger vehicles are safe and are being
operated safely.\9

FHWA and state officials told us that because many more commercial
trucks enter the United States from Mexico than do commercial
passenger vehicles, they spend most of their time inspecting
commercial trucks.  About 12,000 commercial truck crossings occur
along the border each day compared with about 598 commercial
passenger vehicle crossings (a 20-to-1 ratio).  Moreover, about 45
percent of the 25,000 trucks inspected upon entering the United
States from Mexico were placed out of service for serious safety
violations in calendar year 1996.\10


--------------------
\8 These inspections cover the most critical safety standards; they
do not include manufacturing vehicle safety standards and other
safety standards, such as those governing seat flammability, that are
under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation's National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

\9 In May 1997, FHWA completed a study of the Mexican safety and
regulatory processes that govern the Mexican scheduled service bus
industry entitled Mexican Regular Route Bus Industry Study.  Among
other things, the study provides a broad description of the industry,
safety and regulatory requirements and processes, and Mexican
government oversight of the industry.  It does not provide
information on the safety fitness of buses operated in Mexico or
address the extent to which Mexican safety regulations are enforced. 

\10 Commercial Trucking:  Safety Concerns About Mexican Trucks Remain
Even as Inspection Activity Increases (GAO/RCED-97-68, Apr.  9,
1997). 


      SAFETY INSPECTIONS IN
      CALIFORNIA
---------------------------------------------------------- Letter :4.1

FHWA is not conducting safety inspections of commercial passenger
vehicles entering California from Mexico.  According to an FHWA
official in California, the two federal inspectors assigned to the
California border are focusing all of their inspection efforts on the
commercial trucks entering the United States from Mexico because (1)
these trucks continue to display serious violations of insurance and
operating authority requirements and (2) congestion at the border
crossings does not allow adequate space for vehicle inspections to be
conducted.\11

California state safety inspections of commercial passenger vehicles
entering the United States from Mexico have been limited to two 1-day
strike force efforts (see fig.  3).  In total, the California Highway
Patrol conducted level-1 inspections of 144 vehicles and placed 37
(26 percent) vehicles out of service for serious safety violations,
such as steering or brake problems. 

   Figure 3:  Commercial Passenger
   Vehicle Inspection Activities
   in California

   (See figure in printed
   edition.)

During the first strike force effort on April 20, 1997, safety
inspectors inspected vehicles near the passenger vehicle border
crossings at San Diego and Otay Mesa.  At the San Diego crossing,
state officials directed commercial passenger vehicles to stop at a
curbside about 1 mile from the border crossing for inspection because
space was insufficient to conduct vehicle inspections at the Customs
border crossing (see fig.  3).  For vehicles crossing at Otay Mesa,
state officials diverted commercial passenger vehicle traffic from
the passenger crossing to the state truck inspection facility about 1
mile away.  The second strike force took place at two federal
Immigration and Naturalization Service border patrol posts just north
of San Diego on April 26, 1997.  A California Highway Patrol official
stated that future border inspections of commercial passenger
vehicles will depend on funding increases because current staffing
levels are not sufficient for increased inspection activity. 


--------------------
\11 Inspection of commercial passenger vehicles requires adequate
space and distance from traffic to provide for the inspectors' and
passengers' safety.  In addition, sufficient space is needed to park
out-of-service vehicles until they can be repaired or towed. 
Finally, passengers must be provided access to shelter, water, and
relief stations. 


      SAFETY INSPECTIONS IN TEXAS
---------------------------------------------------------- Letter :4.2

FHWA inspectors primarily conducted level-2 safety inspections of
commercial passenger vehicles in Texas from January through May 1997
(see fig.  4).  They also have conducted several strike forces.  In
total, FHWA inspectors inspected 384 commercial passenger vehicles
and placed 80 (21 percent) of them out-of-service for serious safety
violations.  The eight FHWA safety inspectors assigned to the Texas
border are responsible for inspecting both commercial trucks and
commercial passenger vehicles that enter the United States from
Mexico.  They have devoted about one-eighth of their time to
commercial passenger vehicle inspections.\12

   Figure 4:  Commercial Passenger
   Vehicle Inspection Activities
   in Texas

   (See figure in printed
   edition.)

Over a 2-week period in February 1997 at the Hidalgo and Pharr
crossings, the first FHWA strike force conducted level-2 safety
inspections of 132 vehicles arriving from Mexico.  Twenty-eight (21
percent) of these vehicles were placed out of service for serious
safety violations, such as inoperative brakes or air suspension
problems.  Of these 28 vehicles, 24 were owned and operated by U.S. 
carriers, 17 of them by a single U.S.  company. 

FHWA conducted two other strike forces in Laredo, one to identify
commercial passenger van traffic patterns and another to address U.S. 
carrier complaints about alleged illegal van operators.  The strike
forces conducted document checks (e.g., proof of vehicle
registration, operator's license, and insurance) of vans entering the
United States.  A 3-day effort beginning on Good Friday and ending
Easter Sunday, a holiday weekend that FHWA officials believed would
see an increase in cross-border van activity, proved uneventful. 
Traffic was extremely light, and FHWA inspectors found only two
violations.  During a 3-week strike force in April and May 1997, FHWA
inspectors cited 11 van operators with 22 violations for lack of
proof of insurance or registration.  All of the vans cited were owned
and operated by U.S.  carriers.  FHWA investigators discovered that
these vehicles were operating without proper insurance coverage or
Department of Transportation operating authority.  FHWA assessed
these van operators a total of $32,000 in penalties for these
violations.  As a result of these findings, FHWA has directed its
inspectors at the border crossings to increase their focus on both
domestic and Mexican vans, as opposed to larger commercial passenger
vehicles, when conducting their commercial passenger vehicle
inspections. 

Texas safety inspectors are not inspecting commercial passenger
vehicles arriving from Mexico because (1) their priority is to
inspect commercial trucks entering the United States from Mexico, (2)
FHWA is currently inspecting commercial passenger vehicles at the
border, and (3) they need a budget for these activities from the
state legislature and inspection locations that provide for passenger
safety while inspections are taking place. 


--------------------
\12 In fiscal year 1996, there were about 2 million commercial truck
crossings into Texas.  During this same period, there were about
92,000 commercial passenger vehicle crossings, according to Customs. 


      FHWA'S INVESTIGATION AND
      EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
---------------------------------------------------------- Letter :4.3

FHWA also investigates foreign and domestic commercial passenger
carriers for violations of federal regulations, such as operating
authority requirements, in response to complaints filed by U.S. 
carriers.  In Texas, FHWA officials are addressing five commercial
passenger carriers alleged to be Mexican carriers operating beyond
U.S.  commercial zones without federal operating authority. 
According to the FHWA official responsible for following up on these
allegations, FHWA has determined that all of these companies are U.S. 
companies.  An FHWA official in California told us that no complaints
about alleged illegal Mexican carriers have been filed with the
agency in that state. 

FHWA has provided Mexican officials with guidance on operating and
safety requirements for commercial passenger vehicles.  For example,
an FHWA official in Arizona told us that on several occasions he
spoke to the Mexican Consulate in Nogales in response to requests for
information on the requirements and regulations applicable to a tour
and charter operator that wanted to transport a group to Disneyland. 
The FHWA official told us he sent the Consulate a package of
information on obtaining proper operating authority, applicable
safety regulations, and other requirements.  In Texas, an FHWA
official prepared a bilingual packet of information containing
operating and safety requirements for Mexican commercial vehicles and
presented it to Mexican officials from the state of Tamaulipas. 


   AGENCY COMMENTS AND OUR
   EVALUATION
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :5

We provided the Department of Transportation with a draft of this
report for review and comment.  We met with officials including the
national motor coach program coordinator in FHWA's Office of Motor
Carriers, the special assistant to the associate administrator in the
Office of Motor Carriers, and a senior analyst in the Office of the
Secretary.  DOT generally agreed with the contents of the draft
report.  DOT also offered several technical and clarifying comments,
which we incorporated where appropriate. 


   SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :6

To achieve our first objective, we obtained the U.S.  Customs
Service's commercial passenger vehicle traffic data for the period
from June 1996 through May 1997.  We also visited seven border
crossings, where almost 90 percent of the commercial passenger
vehicles from Mexico enter the United States.  We discussed the
nature of cross-border commercial passenger vehicle traffic with
Customs, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of
Transportation, and state commercial vehicle enforcement officials in
Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.  We also discussed
cross-border traffic with university researchers. 

To achieve our second objective, we discussed inspection practices
with Department of Transportation officials and state enforcement
officials in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.  We observed
federal commercial passenger vehicle inspection activity in Texas and
state commercial passenger vehicle inspection activity in California. 
We obtained commercial passenger vehicle inspection reports from
Department of Transportation and California Highway Patrol officials. 
We also met with the Texas Bus Association, the American Bus
Association, and several U.S.  bus company officials to discuss
cross-border safety issues involving commercial passenger vehicles. 

With the exception of not verifying Customs' cross-border crossing
data and inspection results reported by FHWA and California, we
performed this work in accordance with generally accepted government
auditing standards.  We performed our work from January 1997 through
July 1997. 


---------------------------------------------------------- Letter :6.1

We are sending copies of this report to congressional committees with
responsibilities for transportation issues; the Secretaries of
Transportation and the Treasury; the Administrator, FHWA; the
Director, Office of Management and Budget; and the Commissioner, U.S. 
Customs Service.  We will also make copies available to others. 

If you or your staff have any questions about this report, please
contact me at (202) 512-3650.  Major contributors to this report were
Marion Chastain, Paul Lacey, James Ratzenberger, Deena Richart, and
Angel Sharma. 

Sincerely yours,

Phyllis F.  Scheinberg
Associate Director, Transportation Issues


*** End of document. ***