The United States Government recently released a study revealing many Mexican buses avoiding safety checks and not being inspected as they enter the United States. During certain times of the day and night, there are no inspectors on duty. Sometimes this lack of inspection is the fault of the patrols at the crossings. This was said to be because they cross the border on evenings and weekends. “Daily bus inspections are not being conducted at border crossings in Calexico, San Ysidro in California, Laredo and McAllen-Hidalgo Bridge in Texas,” said the Transportation Department’s Inspector General’s office in his report. At Laredo’s crossings, bus inspections were being carried out on the road’s shoulder within inches of moving passenger buses, according to the report. Mexican buses avoiding safety checks pose danger and serious risk to South Texans. Often these buses drive long hours with no stops while driving through many major Texas cities. San Antonio is among one of these cities that could experience difficulties with the buses. If you live in San Antonio and happen to be involved in an accident with a Mexican bus, contact a San Antonio Mexican bus crash attorney at Carabin Shaw. Our experienced attorneys have a wealth of information and experience with bus accidents and will fight for you to receive the compensation you deserve.
Mexican buses avoiding safety checks can be hazardous if allowed into the streets of San Antonio. We do not know how long the buses have been driving, what they are carrying and how much they weigh. There have been measures put into place by the government in order to prevent hazardous buses like these from unlawfully entering the United States. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) granted U.S. road access to Mexican trucks and buses, but Congress delayed their travel further into this country by first requiring that certain safety measures be in place.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association, which oversees safety monitoring for Mexican trucks and buses, agreed with all recommendations made by the Inspector General’s office. The association said in a written response to the audit that it was working with Customs and Border Protection to improve space for bus inspection. The report also said some states are not consistently reporting traffic convictions of people driving in the U.S. with Mexican driver’s licenses. This appears to be a widespread problem. The report said that delayed reporting or nonreporting of convictions could lead to Mexican federal commercial driver’s license holders continuing to drive the U.S. despite the traffic conviction. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association, “the lower conviction reporting could be attributed to law enforcement budget cuts, court noncompliance and drops in commercial driving because of the economic slump.” Regardless both the federal and state governments must make sure that the problems reported as a result of the audit are corrected.
It seems like these buses will continue to slip through the cracks and enter the United States without proper safety checks. That is why it is important to have an attorney to turn to in case you are involved in an accident with one of these buses. If you live in San Antonio and you or a loved one is seriously injured from an accident with a bus like this, contact an attorney at Carabin Shaw. Our lawyers have experience in dealing with cases like this and can help you get the compensation you deserve. Serious injuries can come from accidents like this. Let Carabin Shaw take your case and settle it in or out of the courtroom. Call an attorney today for your free consultation.