Title 49

SECTION 385.1009

385.1009 Suspension proceedings.

§ 385.1009 Suspension proceedings.

(a) General. The Agency Official may issue an order to suspend a motor carrier's registration based on a determination made in accordance with § 385.1007.

(b) Commencement of proceedings. The Agency Official may commence a proceeding under this section by serving an order to one or more motor carriers which:

(1) Provides notice that the Agency is considering whether to suspend the motor carrier's registration;

(2) Provides notice of the factual and legal basis for the order;

(3) Directs the motor carrier to comply with a regulation or condition of its registration;

(4) Informs the motor carrier that the response to the order must be in writing, state the factual or legal basis for its response, and include all documentation, if any, the motor carrier wants considered;

(5) Informs the motor carrier of the address and name of the person to whom the response should be directed and served;

(6) Informs the motor carrier that its registration may be suspended on the 35th day after service of the order issued under this section if the motor carrier has not demonstrated, in writing, compliance with any compliance directive issued, or otherwise shown good cause why compliance is not required or the registration should not be suspended.

(c) Review of response. The Agency Official will review the responses to the order and determine whether the motor carrier's registration should be suspended.

(1) The Agency Official will take one of the following actions:

(i) If the Agency Official determines the motor carrier's registration should be suspended, he or she will enter an order suspending the motor carrier's registration; or

(ii) If the Agency Official determines the motor carrier's registration should not be suspended, he or she will enter an order terminating the proceeding.

(2) If the Agency Official issues an order to suspend the motor carrier's registration, the order will:

(i) Provide notice to the motor carrier of the right to petition the Assistant Administrator for review of the order within 15 days of service of the order suspending the registration, and provide notice of the procedures in § 385.911(e);

(ii) Provide notice that a timely petition for review will stay the effective date of the order unless the Assistant Administrator orders otherwise for good cause; and

(iii) Provide notice that failure to timely serve a petition for review constitutes waiver of the right to contest the order suspending the motor carrier's registration and will result in the order becoming a Final Agency Order 20 days after it is served.

(iv) Provide notice that a Final Agency Order suspending the motor carrier's registration will remain in effect and bar approval of any subsequent application for registration until rescinded by the Agency Official pursuant to § 385.1013.

(d) Administrative Review. The motor carrier may petition the Assistant Administrator for review of an order issued under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section by following the procedures set forth in § 385.911(e).

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