JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Commercial vehicle safety is high on the agenda of Missouri legislators this year.

Among bills of interest to motorcoach operators are measures that would set up a program to certify local law enforcement officers to enforce commercial vehicle laws, and to require applicants for commercial driver licenses to be able to speak and read English. The bill passed the Missouri House and was forwarded to the Senate.

Sponsored by Rep. Neal St. Onge, the bill HB245 would require the written CDL test to be offered only in English. Applicants ability to understand traffic signs and signals written in English also would be required.

Applicants would be prohibited from using interpreters or translators while taking the test.

St. Onge said its a matter of safety. "Were allowing interpreters for people taking their CDL exams. I think you should have a command of the English language to be able to drive a (commercial vehicle) on our roads," St. Onge told a radio interviewer. "It also follows federal regulations that you should be able to read, write and understand English to get a CDL."

Opponents say there are no studies that suggest English proficiency makes better drivers.

Another bill would prohibit the expunging of records for commercial driver license holders who are convicted of or plead guilty to an offense with a blood-alcohol content of 0.04 percent or above. The bill SB50 also includes a provision about driving while out of service.

First offenders would be prohibited from driving a commercial motor vehicle for six months. Existing Missouri law calls for a three-month ban. Anyone found in violation a second time within a period of 10 years would face a two-year ban from driving a commercial vehicle. Existing rules call for a one-year suspension.

Meanwhile, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced a beefed up commercial vehicle enforcement program that was authorized by legislative action last year.

The patrol transferred 20 fulltime positions from vacancies within its commercial vehicle enforcement division and reassigned them as sworn troopers.

This allowed the patrol to create the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Troopers Pilot Program, consisting of two teams. The CVET program, as the initiative is called, improves the patrols commercial vehicle enforcement capabilities, as well as upgrades its homeland security activities and expands its presence on Missouri roadways.

Another 12 troopers are expected to be assigned to the program this fall.

Troopers assigned as CVETs will be distinguished from other state troopers by their uniforms they will wear blue instead of brown, and they will patrol in Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs.

Their responsibilities will include investigating traffic crashes involving motorcoaches, school buses and other commercial vehicles.