(a) The use of the public highways for the transportation of passengers for compensation is a business affected with a public interest. It is the purpose of this chapter to preserve for the public full benefit and use of public highways consistent with the needs of commerce without unnecessary congestion or wear and tear upon the highways; to secure to the people adequate and dependable transportation by carriers operating upon the highways; to secure full and unrestricted flow of traffic by motor carriers over the highways which will adequately meet reasonable public demands by providing for the regulation of all transportation agencies with respect to accident indemnity so that adequate and dependable service by all necessary transportation agencies shall be maintained and the full use of the highways preserved to the public; and to promote carrier and public safety through its safety enforcement regulations.
(b) To achieve the purposes of subdivision (a) the commission shall do all of the following:
(1) Prioritize the timely processing of applications and hold “application workshops” for potential applicants around the state.
(2) Enable electronic filing of applications, reports, and fee payments.
(3) Dedicate staff to answering telephone calls, mailings, and electronic inquiries from carriers.
(4) Prioritize the timely processing of consumer complaints.
(5) Implement electronic case tracking of complaints and their disposition.
(6) Implement a process for appropriate and timely enforcement against illegally operating carriers, including by performing staff-driven investigations and performing enforcement through sting operations and other forms of presence in the field.
(7) Maintain relationships with, and implement outreach and education programs to, local law enforcement, district attorneys, and airports, and coordinate with law enforcement agencies pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 1046, subdivision (d) of Section 5317.5, and subdivision (d) of Section 5417.5.
(8) Meet with carrier trade associations at least annually.
(9) Implement a consolidated case tracking system that integrates each of the transportation program core functions and data collection, administrative compliance details, complaints, and investigations.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 718, Sec. 7. (SB 541) Effective January 1, 2016.)