Monday, July 24, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Issues Executive Order to Allow Timely Response to Emergencies
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt issued Executive Order 06-28 authorizing the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Director to suspend certain commercial motor vehicle regulations in response to emergencies.
“This
order gives the transportation director discretion and authority to waive select
regulations if it will assist in emergency response or recovery,” Blunt
said. “As hundreds of thousands of our citizens continue to deal with
the aftermath of last week’s storms, it is imperative that we do all
we can to remove any roadblocks to their recovery.”
The executive order allows the director to issue an emergency declaration of
a regional emergency in order to temporarily suspend the usual requirements
for motor carriers and drivers operating a commercial vehicle. The temporary
suspension would apply only to those motor carriers and drivers operating commercial
vehicles participating in emergency relief efforts.
If the MoDOT director issues an emergency declaration, drivers of motor carriers and commercial vehicles providing emergency assistance during an emergency may receive a temporary suspension from the Title 49 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Part 395, freeing the drivers from the hours of service regulations.
The executive order will expire on July 22, 2007 and reinstates an order previously issued in January 2005.
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