108 STAT. 1000 PUBLIC LAW 103-272—JULY 5, 1994 (1) to promote the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles; (2) to minimize dangers to the health of operators of commercial motor vehicles and other employees whose employ- ment directly affects motor carrier safety; and (3) to ensure increased compliance with traffic laws and with the commercial motor vehicle safety and health regulations and standards prescribed and orders issued under this chapter. (b) FINDINGS. —Congress finds- CD it is in the public interest to enhance commercial motor vehicle safety and thereby reduce highway fatalities, injuries, and property damage; (2) improved, more uniform commercial motor vehicle safety measures and strengthened enforcement would reduce the number of fatalities and injuries and the level of property damage related to commercial motor vehicle operations; (3) enhanced protection of the health of commercial motor vehicle operators is in the public interest; and (4) interested State governments can provide valuable assistance to the United States Government in ensuring that commercial motor vehicle operations are conducted safely and healthfully. §31132. Definitions In this subchapter— (1) "commercial motor vehicle" means a self-propelled or towed vehicle used on the highways in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property, if the vehicle— (A) has a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 10,001 pounds; (B) is designed to transport more than 15 passengers including the driver; or (C) is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous under section 5103 of this title and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under section 5103. (2) "employee" means an operator of a commercial motor vehicle (including an independent contractor when operating a commercial motor vehicle), a mechanic,\,a freight handler, or an individual not an employer, who— (A) directly affects commercial inotor vehicle safety in the course of employment; and (B) is not an employee of the United States Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State acting in the course of the employment by the Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State. (3) "employer" — (A) means a person engaged in a business affecting interstate commerce that owns or leases a commercial motor vehicle in connection with that' business, or assigns an employee to operate it; but (B) does not include the Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State. (4) "interstate commerce" means trade, traffic, or transportation in the United States between a place in a State and—
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