Motorcoach associations in California and North Carolina have filled separate complaints against public transit agencies in those states, charging them with violating the federal charter service regulation.

The California Bus Association accused the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency of violating the rule when it operated a shuttle service for the Presidents Golf Cup of the PGA last October.

At the same time, the North Carolina Motorcoach Association and the United Motorcoach Association accused the Winston-Salem Transit Authority of violating the charter rule by operating a shuttle for the Dixie Classic Fair, also in October.

Both complaints were filed with the Office of the Chief Counsel of the Federal Transit Administration, which enforces the rule that prohibits public transit agencies from providing charter bus services in competition with private operators. The rule went into effect 21 months ago.

The California Bus Association lodged its complaint on behalf of two of its members, Coach America/Franciscan Lines and El Camino Trailways.

The complaint says San Francisco Muni provided the shuttle for the PGA golf tournament without providing notice to registered charter providers -- in violation of the charter rule.

Additionally, it said the shuttle was not part of Munis regularly scheduled service, no fare was charged passengers, and the route was specified by the event organizers. All those factors violate the charter rule.

According to the complaint, San Francisco Muni used from 12 to 25 buses per day for the seven-day golf tournament, and received nearly $58,000 for the service from the tournament organizers.

The complaint asks the FTA to require Muni to comply with the rule, especially in view of the fact the tournament will be held in the future.

The North Carolina Motorcoach and United Motorcoach associations filing against Winston-Salem Transit makes many of the same allegations as the California complaint. The filing was submitted on behalf of 18 of the associations members.

It asserts the fairs organizers dictated the routes, reimbursed Winston-Salem Transit for the service, and determined the hours for the service.

Additionally, no fares were collected, the shuttle wasnt part of Winston-Salem Transits regular service, and it was intended to exclude the general public.

The complaint says members of the North Carolina Motorcoach Association suffered irreparable harm because of the rule violation.