Metal Theft and Fencing, Penalties for Drunk Driving Employees & National Auto Inspection Standards: October 1, 2008

The House was not in session yesterday and the Senate spent large part of the day dealing with the financial rescue/bailout plan and the US-India Nuclear Agreement. Below is one bill introduced in the Senate yesterday as well as a few others introduced in the House and Senate over the past week.

This first bill is an interesting one dealing with the new issue of metal theft and fencing, particularly copper:

By Ms. KLOBUCHAR (D-MN) (and Mr. HATCH (R-UT)):
S. 3666. A bill to require certain metal recyclers to keep records of their transactions in order to deter individuals and enterprises engaged in theft and interstate fencing of stolen copper, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Source: GPO [S10323]

Here in a bill introduced over the weekend in the House, which holds employers accountable when their employees are convicted of driving an 'over-the-road' bus under the influence of booze or drugs:

By Ms. JACKSON-LEE (D-TX):
H.R. 7204. A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish sanctions and penalties applicable to an employer whenever an employee of the employer is convicted of driving an over-the-road bus under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance while acting within the scope of the employee's employment; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Source: GPO [H10330]

And finally, another bill by same Representative on same day. This one seems to make a lot of sense, but those that know transportation better than me would know if it is valid to hold same motor vehicle inspection standards for all states (national standard) instead of each state having their own individual standards. I can see how automobiles in different states would have different requirements. I'd have to think autos in Alaska and Colorado would have different needs than those in Arizona or New Mexico.

By Ms. JACKSON-LEE (D-TX):
H.R. 7210. A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to establish national standards for State safety inspections of motor vehicles, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Source: GPO [H10330]