GALVESTON, Texas The United Motorcoach Association and a group of southern motorcoach operators have convinced the Port of Galveston to drop a costly "user license" for operators dropping off passengers at the ports cruise ship terminal.

Members of the South Central Motorcoach Association, which represents operators in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas, joined with UMA last year to protest a slew of port-use fees that went into effect on the Galveston wharves in July. (See Sept. 1 Bus & Motorcoach News.)

The charges included an initial license application fee of $250, an annual renewal fee of $50, a $10 per vehicle decal fee, and a $50 per trip access fee for all commercial vehicles having a capacity of 15 or more passengers.

"It was our mutual contention that both the licensing and fee requirements violated interstate commerce laws, as well as deregulation laws contained in TEA-21 (the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century)," said Ken Presley, vice president of industry relations at UMA.

TEA-21 was adopted by Congress nearly 10 years ago and it prohibits states and political subdivisions of states from enacting or enforcing any law, rule, regulation, standard or other provision that regulates companies that are licensed by the federal government to provide interstate or intrastate transportation.

States and local political subdivisions can only regulate safety, set weight limits on roads and bridges, and establish insurance requirements.

At its meeting late last month, the board of trustees of the port voted to no longer require the pricey license, decal and renewal fees.

"Operators will only be required to pay $50 for parking, compared with the $100-$200 drop-off fees charged at other ports, and afford evidence of insurance," said Presley.

The change became effective immediately.

The port also adopted new procedures that require charter bus operators give the ports director of administration sufficient advance notice of their arrival, allowing the port time to verify the operator meets federal insurance requirements.

The Galveston Port Authority accepted an offer from UMA to assist it in confirming compliant insurance limits, plus safety and operating authority. Otherwise, operators will have to provide the port staff, via their insurance carriers, copies of valid insurance certificates.

Additionally, the $50 payment is to be made by check on arrival at the port cruise ship terminal complex, unless advance payment arrangements have been made.

"The Port of Galveston has received many upgrades recently and is a year-round cruise ship port," noted Presley. "As the port authority is self funded, $50, or roughly $1 per passenger, to use the facility is generally thought to be reasonable.

"Also, I must emphasize that officials from the port authority were generally cooperative in listening to our concerns and characterize an agency genuinely interested in promoting tourism," Presley added.