COLUMBIA, S.C. The Motorcoach Association of South Carolina and the United Motorcoach Association are opposing aspects of an anti-idling bill thats making its way through the South Carolina General Assembly.

The bill, H. 4911, has passed the South Carolina House and is being considered by the state Senate Committee on Transportation.

UMA Vice President of Industry Relations Ken Presley said the legislation would impose unreasonable idling restrictions on passenger coaches trying to cope with South Carolinas brutally hot and humid summers.

"Motorcoaches differ greatly from trucks or automobiles in construction as compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards preclude the opening (except in emergencies) of the motorcoach windows to allow air to adequately circulate to keep the interior temperature equal to that of the outside ambient temperature," said Presley. "There are examples of motorcoaches parked, with the engine shut down, exposed to the South Carolina sun during the summer months and the interior temperatures exceeding 150 degrees.

"When excessive temperatures are reached in a motorcoach it becomes much more than just cooling air. The very framework, cushions and fabric of the interior also have reached these excessive temperatures and must be cooled down before the interior of a bus can be considered a safe and comfortable environment for the passengers, very often South Carolinas tourists," Presley noted.

"In actual practice, idling time limits have had a reverse effect in the many jurisdictions that have implemented unrealistic idling regulations. Summer heat often forces motorcoach drivers to drive around the community empty to avoid violating idling ordinances and possibly receiving a fine.

"Commonly referred to as a "rolling idle," it should be obvious that an empty motorcoach roving around town just to cool the interior for the passengers consumes more fuel and emits more pollutants than a motorcoach simply idling. This void in political leadership to understand and explain to the public the disparity is never more obvious than in the city of Washington, D.C. With an idling restriction of three minutes, it is not unusual to view dozens of empty motorcoaches driving aimlessly around The Mall, just to cool the coach.

"This is political correctness gone awry," said Presley.

He also points out that the demographics of most South Carolina motorcoach passengers reveal they are both in-state and out-of-state tourists, with the majority of them either senior citizens or youth.

"The very young and the elderly are the most susceptible to heat-related health issues," Presley said.

UMA and the Motorcoach Association of South Carolina are seeking to have the bill amended to allow passenger buses to idle for up to 40 minutes prior to loading passengers if the outside ambient temperature is 80-89 degrees or below 32 degrees; idle for up to 60 minutes prior to loading passengers if the outside temperature is 90-99 degrees, and unrestricted idling prior to loading passengers if the outside ambient temperature is 100 degrees or greater.

"By relating idle time to outside ambient temperature, a reasonable approach may be implemented within the mechanical limitations of the motorcoach heating and air conditioning systems," Presley said.

The South Carolina coach association and Presley are urging operators to write to state Sen. Lawrence K. Grooms, chairman of the South Carolina Senate Committee on Transportation, to seek changes to the idling bill.

The text of the bill can be found at www.scstatehouse.net. On the right side of the splash page, click on "Bill Number" under "Quick Search." Enter 4911 in the small "Search For" window and click on "Search."