LAS VEGAS - Cash-strapped states across the country have begun peppering the motorcoach industry with proposals for new taxes and new regulations that could cost operators millions of dollars.

And state trade associations are fighting back -- sometimes successfully.

Thats the message representatives from state bus groups delivered during the annual State Association Summit held here last month in conjunction with UMA Motorcoach Expo 2010.

From coast to coast, they warned, the industry stands to be hit with new costs at a time when many operators are facing serious financial struggles of their own.

"And things are only going to get worse," warned New York operator and outgoing UMA Chairman Godfrey LeBron, adding that federal lawmakers also are targeting the industry with measures that could prove costly to individual operators.

In Alabama, operators twice defeated attempts by state lawmakers to raise commercial vehicle licensing fees, but now are facing a third fight as the state proposes other taxes that would impact the motorcoach industry.

"Every time you turn around they want to hit us with something to raise their revenue," complained Alabama operator Charles Payne of Southern Charter Co. in Trussville. "Its just a continuing fight."

Jim Harris of North Carolina said operators in his state are struggling to get school districts to adopt uniform insurance requirements for operators providing charters for school. Currently, the requirements vary by as much as $5 million, which creates serious financial and logistic problems for operators who run buses in more than one county.

"Were now trying to negotiate with the individual counties instead of the state legislature," said Harris of Cardinal Coach in Warsaw, N.C., and who is immediate past president of the North Carolina Motorcoach Association.

Operators in Alabama and North Carolina did find success with their efforts to get their state legislatures to pass measures that prohibit convicted sex offenders from obtaining commercial drivers licenses with passenger endorsements. The law already has taken effect in North Carolina and is awaiting the signature of the governor in Alabama.

In Virginia, operators are looking for state or federal help in stopping the charity organization United Way from teaming up with transit agencies and operating charters, according to Virginia Motorcoach Association associate board member Chuck Andrews of WorldStrides.

John Silvanie of White Plains Bus Co. said New York operators faced off with the state to defeat a transportation tax, but failed - along with many other groups -- in an effort to stop state lawmakers from passing a statewide payroll tax that supports the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority.

However, the payroll tax issue is far from over, according to operator William Schoolman, who has filed suit against the state to have the tax declared unconstitutional.

Schoolman, who is president of Hampton Luxury Liner and Classic Coach of Bohemia, N.Y., announced he plans to devote much of his time in the months ahead to gather support for his effort from businesses, hospitals, schools and others that are having to pay the MTA payroll tax.

Schoolman maintains its unfair for him to be required to pay additional taxes to an agency that competes directly with his motorcoach companies.

"The MTA is a monstrous money pit," he told operators at the summit, contending it pays many of its employees outrageous salaries and continually mismanages its budgets.

In Pennsylvania, operators are championing efforts to defeat legislation that would require them to buy all-natural-gas buses whenever they replace one of their diesel-fueled buses. "Were working against that right now," said Elaine Farrell, executive director of the Pennsylvania Bus Association.

She said the operators also have taken on a new task that could head off possibly problems down the road - conducting personal interviews with candidates who are running for governor.

In the state of Washington, operators there are involved in a fight with ramifications that go well beyond that state and could impact operators all across the U.S.

Under fire is Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state who pushed through an exemption from the federal charter service rule for King County Metro Transit of Seattle. The action has so angered operators in the state that they now are mounting a campaign to defeat the senator in this falls election.

"Were committed to getting (her) out of office," said Tom Cook of Silver city Charter and Tours in Silverdale, Wash., who warned that if the exemption sticks in his state it wont be long before it spreads to other states.

In fact, industry executives said they already are hearing reports throughout the country that other members of Congress are considering seeking similar exemptions for cities in their states.

Meantime, UMA President and CEO Victor Parra told operators attending the summit they need to remain vigilant in protecting their turf.

"Were seeing operators getting more involved in state and local affairs and with officials and thats good because thats where most state and national politicians start," he said.

Parra suggested, too, that operators encourage executives with state and local hotel and tourism organizations to work with them because the motorcoach industry has a huge impact on the two industries.

"State legislatures need to think long and hard before doing anything to our business because we contribute to the economy, both directly and indirectly," he emphasized.