A Look at Two Companies' Violations

Inspectors found safety violations at all 13 bus companies examined during a December East Coast sweep, but 10 won a "satisfactory" rating. " Of the three remaining, two operate in D.C.

· New Century Travel: Cited for 20 violations, including operating a bus that regulators had ordered out of service.

Other citations: Failing to conduct a driver drug and alcohol test after a crash in May 2005; falsifying reports showing how long drivers had been on duty; failing to investigate a driver's background; using a driver who hadn't completed an employment application; and failing to inspect push-out windows and emergency doors as required.

The company rating: "conditional."

New Century operates 30 buses a day to D.C., New York and Philadelphia, according to its Web site.

· Suntour International : Received 13 citations, including operating a commercial vehicle without a commercial license; failure to have evidence of a brake inspector's qualifications; allowing a driver to drive a bus more than 70 hours in eight consecutive days; failing to keep a driver's duty record; and failing to conduct drug and alcohol tests as required.

The company was rated "unsatisfactory." (Such companies may continue to operate for 45 days while fixing problems, except in cases of an imminent hazard. Suntour subsequently was upgraded to "satisfactory.")

A woman who answered the phone at the Brooklyn-based company but would not give her name said it does not have regularly scheduled service but operates tours, including to D.C.

-- Cindy Loose