Action
Notice of proposed guidance; Request for comments.
Summary
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a modal administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), proposes to use the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) technique of binding arbitration in civil penalty forfeiture proceedings in which the only issues remaining to be resolved are: (1) The amount of the civil penalty owed, and (2) the length of time in which to pay it. FMCSA will not agree to arbitrate maximum penalty cases issued pursuant to section 222 of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, or any cases that require interpretation of the regulations or analysis of important policy issues. FMCSA intends to implement binding arbitration immediately upon publication of this notice. Binding arbitration will be implemented to provide more efficient and effective resolution of the large volume of adjudication cases that are now before FMCSA's Chief Safety Officer. In accordance with section 575(c) of the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996, FMCSA has submitted this Guidance to the Attorney General for consultation. The Attorney General concurs in the issuance of this Guidance. Changes to the arbitration program may be made, however, in accordance with any comments or information received by FMCSA concerning implementation of binding arbitration.