under section 31104(f)(2)(B) of title 49, United
States Code, for such fiscal year.
SEC. 208. MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM ASSESSMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation
should ensure that motor carriers operate safely by impos-
ing civil penalties at a level calculated to ensure prompt
and sustained compliance with Federal motor carrier safe-
ty and commercial driver’s license laws.
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary—
(1) should establish and assess minimum civil
penalties for each violation of a law referred to in
subsection (a); and
(2) shall assess the maximum civil penalty for
each violation of a law referred to in subsection (a)
by any person who has previously been found to
have committed the same violation or a related viola-
tion.
(c) EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.—If the Sec-
retary determines and documents that extraordinary cir-
cumstances exist which merit the assessment of any civil
penalty lower than any level established under subsection
(b), the Secretary may assess such lower penalty.
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct
a study of the effectiveness of the revised civil pen-
alties established in the Transportation Equity Act
for the 21st Century and this Act in ensuring
prompt and sustained compliance with Federal
motor carrier safety and commercial driver’s license
laws.
(2) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary
shall transmit the results of such study and any rec-
ommendations to Congress by September 30, 2002.
(e) SEMIANNUAL AUDIT BY INSPECTOR GENERAL.—
The Inspector General of the Department of Transpor-
tation shall conduct a semiannual audit of the National
Motor Carrier Administration’s enforcement activities, in-
cluding an analysis of the number of violations cited by
safety inspectors and the level of fines assessed and col-
lected for such violations, and of the number of cases in
which there are findings of extrordinary circumstances
under subsection (c) and the circumstances in which these
findings are made and shall promptly submit the results
of each such audit to Congress.
SEC. 209. STUDY OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH
CAUSATION AND DATA IMPROVEMENT.
(a) OBJECTIVES.—The Secretary of Transportation
shall conduct a comprehensive study to determine the
causes of, and contributing factors to, crashes that involve
commercial motor vehicles. The study shall also identify
data requirements and collection procedures, reports, and
other measures that will improve the Department of
Transportation’s and States’ ability to—
(1) evaluate future crashes involving commer-
cial motor vehicles;
(2) monitor crash trends and identify causes
and contributing factors; and
(3) develop effective safety improvement policies
and programs.
(b) DESIGN.—The study shall be designed to yield
information that will help the Department and the States
identify activities and other measures likely to lead to sig-
nificant reductions in the frequency, severity, and rate per
mile traveled of crashes involving commercial motor vehi-
cles. As practicable, the study shall rank such activities
and measures by the reductions each would likely achieve,
if implemented.
(c) CONSULTATION.—In designing and conducting
the study, the Secretary shall consult with persons with
expertise on—
(1) crash causation and prevention;
(2) commercial motor vehicles, drivers, and car-
riers;
(3) highways and noncommercial motor vehicles
and drivers;
(4) Federal and State highway and motor car-
rier safety programs;
(5) research methods and statistical analysis;
and
(6) other relevant topics.
(d) PUBLIC COMMENT.—The Secretary shall make
available for public comment information about the objec-
tives, methodology, implementation, findings, and other
aspects of the study.
(e) REPORT.—The Secretary shall promptly transmit
the results of the study, together with any legislative rec-
ommendations, to Congress. The Secretary shall review
the study at least once every 5 years and update the study
and report as necessary.
(f) DATA IMPROVEMENTS.—Based on the findings of
the study, the Secretary shall work with the States, and
other appropriate entities, to standardize crash data re-
quirements, collection procedures, and reports.
(g) 
ELIGIBILITY.—Notwithstanding 
section
104(a)(4) of title 23, United States Code, activities under
this section shall be eligible for funding under section
104(a) of such title and may be carried out by any entity
within the Department that the Secretary designates.
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