Chapter 105. TITLE 20: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
TITLE 20: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE CHAPTER 20-105 TOUR COMPANY VEHICLE PERMIT REGISTRATION RULES AND REGULATIONS Part 001 General Provisions Inspection Requirement § 20-105-001 Title and Authority § 20-105-405 General Inspection § 20-105-005 Definitions § 20-105-410 Random Inspection § 20-105-415 Damaged Vehicles Part 100 Permit § 20-105-420 Inspection Approval Decal § 20-105-101 Permit Application Requirement § 20-105-105 Type of Permit and Fees § 20-105-110 Modified Vehicles Permit Part 500 Permit and Decal Non- § 20-105-115 Duration Transferrable § 20-105-120 Renewal § 20-105-501 Non-Transferrable Permit and Decal Part 200 Signage § 20-105-201 Required Features Part 600 Revocation or Suspension of Tour Vehicle Registration Permit Part 300 Fines § 20-105-601 Revocation or Suspension of § 20-105-301 Fines Structure Permit: Temporary § 20-105-605 Revocation or Suspension of Part 400 Inspection Permit: Hearing § 20-105-401 Tour Company Vehicle Chapter Authority: 1 CMC § 2454; 4 CMC § 51420(b). Modified, 1 CMC § 3806(g). Chapter History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). Part 001 - General Provisions § 20-105-001 Title and Authority. The rules and regulations in this chapter shall be called the “Tour Company Vehicle Permit Registration Rules and Regulations.” This chapter is promulgated by the Secretary of Commerce under authority granted pursuant to 4 CMC § 51420. History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). § 20-105-005 Definitions. (a) “Tour Company” means a company who is engaged in the business of extending to individuals or groups, such services pertaining to arrangements and bookings for transportation of tourist to scenic, historic landmarks and attractions on land and in sea of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. © 2019 by The Commonwealth Law Revision Commission (Oct. 28, 2019) Page 1 of 6
TITLE 20: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (b) “Tour Vehicle” means any vehicle used for the purpose of tourist transport to scenic, historic landmarks and attractions on land and in sea of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, for a fee, commission or any other lawful remuneration. (c) “Modified Vehicles” means any vehicle altered from its original design for tour purposes. (d) “Vehicle Category” means vehicles categorized by passenger capacity. (e) “Permit” means a document issued by the Department of Commerce to individual registered tour vehicles in compliance with the regulations. (f) “Signage” means markings on each tour vehicle in English representing their respective company and unit number. (g) “Secretary” means Secretary of Commerce. (h) “Director” means Director of Enforcement & Compliance. (i) “Ground Transportation” means a Tour Vehicle that is utilized for transportation of tourists to a scenic, historic landmarks and attractions on land of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Modified, 1 CMC § 3806(a). History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). Part 100 - Permit. § 20-105-101 Permit Application. (a) The contents of the said permit shall include permit number, company information, vehicle information, expiration date, business form, Secretary’s or Designee’s signature, serial number, unit number, and license plate number. (b) Before an inspection is performed by the Division of Enforcement and Compliance, a Tour Company Vehicle Permit Registration Application must be completed and submitted to the Department of Commerce and permit shall be approved by the Secretary or Designee. (c) No Company shall cause a vehicle to be hired for tour without first being inspected, registered and issued a registration permit from the Department of Commerce. (d) The Tour Company Vehicle Registration Permit expiration date shall coincide with the expiration date of vehicle registration. Modified, 1 CMC § 3806(g). © 2019 by The Commonwealth Law Revision Commission (Oct. 28, 2019) Page 2 of 6
TITLE 20: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). § 20-105-105 Type of Permit and Fees. a) Category b) Passenger Capacity c) Fees Category A 1 to 8 Passengers 25.00 Category C 19-Up Passengers 200.00 (All Capacity) History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). § 20-105-110 Modified Vehicles Permit. Any tour vehicle modified to increase seating capacity from the original design specification and reaches the next another* vehicle category prescribed shall be assessed a permit fee of the modified seating.
- So in original. History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). § 20-105-115 Duration. Upon payment of required permit fees, except temporary vehicle permit, each permit expiration date shall coincide with the expiration date of vehicle registration. History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). § 20-105-120 Renewal. Except for temporary vehicle permit which is authorized not to exceed three days, each permit fees must be renewed no later than 30 days after the expiration date and fines and fee must be disposed of prior to the renewal of any permit. Modified, 1 CMC § 3806(e). History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). Part 200 - Signage. § 20-105-201 Required Features. (a) No Company shall cause a vehicle to be hired without first having proper signage on the exterior of the tour vehicle specifically in English. (b) All dark colored tour vehicles shall display exterior signage in light colored lettering. All © 2019 by The Commonwealth Law Revision Commission (Oct. 28, 2019) Page 3 of 6
TITLE 20: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE light colored tour vehicles shall display exterior signage in dark colored lettering. All tour vehicles shall display signage representing their respective company and unit number. (c) All tour vehicles shall display proper signage letter size as prescribed by the or Designee.* (d) Any violation of the signage required feature shall be resolved no later than two weeks of the violation date notice. Category Passenger Capacity Height Minimum Category A 1 to 8 Passengers 2.5 inches Category B 9 to 18 Passengers 3.5 inches Category C 19-Up Passengers 6.0 inches Category D Temporary Vehicle Permit - (All Capacity)
- So in original. Modified, 1 CMC § 3806(e),(g). History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). Part 300 - Fines. § 20-105-301 Fines Structure. Offenses Fines Late Renewal of Permit Five times the amount of permit fee Unpermitted Tour Vehicle 200.00 per offense No-Possession of functional certified fire 50.00 per offense Modified, 1 CMC § 3806(e). History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). Part 400 - Inspection. § 20-105-401 Tour Company Vehicle Inspection Requirement. No tour company shall cause a vehicle to be hired without first passing inspection by the Department of Commerce. Items required for inspection are as follows: (a) Certified Portable Fire Extinguisher (b) First Aid Kit (c) Trash Receptacle (d) Proper Signage © 2019 by The Commonwealth Law Revision Commission (Oct. 28, 2019) Page 4 of 6
TITLE 20: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Modified, 1 CMC § 3806(g). History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). § 20-105-405 General Inspection. All Tour Company Vehicle registered at the Department of Commerce are required to be periodically inspected at six months interval by the Department of Commerce commencing at date of registration permit date issuance. Modified, 1 CMC § 3806(e). History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). § 20-105-410 Random Inspection. The Secretary or Designee may from time to time make random administrative inspections of tour vehicles and their equipment and pertinent records to assure compliance of all applicable rules and regulations. The verbal order or other orders of the Secretary or Designee to perform such inspections shall be adhered by all tour companies, owners, operators and drivers. History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). § 20-105-415 Damaged Vehicles. (a) All tour companies are required to submit a Police Report to the Director of Enforcement and Compliance Division at the soonest possible for any tour vehicle sustaining damages from being involved in an accident. (b) No tour company shall cause such vehicle that has been repaired from damages to be hired without first acquiring a safety inspection report from any of the licensed establishments and inspection report at the Department of Commerce, Enforcement and Compliance Division. Modified, 1 CMC § 3806(g). History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). § 20-105-420 Inspection Approval Decal Requirement. All tour vehicles approved for new and renewal inspection by the Department of Commerce, Enforcement and Compliance Division shall be marked with a decal as prescribed by the Secretary or Designee. The said decal shall bear the Department of Commerce Logo, inspection date and type of inspection. The Secretary or Designee shall order the removal of such decal from damaged tour vehicles. History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). Part 500 - Permit and Decal Non-Transferrable © 2019 by The Commonwealth Law Revision Commission (Oct. 28, 2019) Page 5 of 6
TITLE 20: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE § 20-105-501 Non-Transferrable Permit and Decal. No permit or decal issued under the authority of this chapter shall be subject to transfer. Modified, 1 CMC § 3806(f). History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). Part 600 - Revocation or Suspension of Tour Company Vehicle Registration Permit § 20-105-601 Revocation or Suspension of Permit: Temporary. (a) The Secretary or Designee may revoke or suspend the right of the Tour Company to use their registration permit for violation of, causing or permitting of, or failure or refusal to comply with any provision of regulation adopted under this Chapter. (b) Upon filing of a sworn written report with the Director or by an inspector setting forth to any ground pursuant to this Chapter for suspension or revocation of a permit, the Director or an inspector may temporarily suspend any permit no more than 48 hours pending a regular hearing by the Department,* The Director or inspector upon temporarily suspending a permit immediately notify the Secretary or Designee in writing of his/her action and transmit to the Secretary or Designee the report of the inspector, including the names of all witness.
- So in original. Modified, 1 CMC § 3806(e),(g). History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). § 20-105-605 Revocation or Suspension of Permit: Hearing. The Secretary or Designee upon receipt of the report required in § 20-105-601 shall, as soon as practicable, hold a hearing on such report, and may suspend or revoke the permit if found non- compliant with any provisions of this chapter. History: Adopted 41 Com. Reg. 42820 (Oct. 28, 2019); Proposed 41 Com. Reg. 42773 (Aug. 28, 2019). © 2019 by The Commonwealth Law Revision Commission (Oct. 28, 2019) Page 6 of 6
Source: CNMI Law Revision Commission