CARSON CITY, Nev. -- After striking out at the state legislature, a group of Nevada motorcoach operators and others in the ground transportation industry is turning to federal court to settle a regulatory beef it has with the state.

The Nevada Transportation Coalition intends to file suit in U.S. District Court in Reno against the state for overstepping its authority in regulating buses and motorcoaches, as well as shuttles, taxis and tow trucks.

"They just don't want to follow the rules," charges Bob Fairman, coalition leader and owner of No Stress Express in Carson City.

The suit will seek to put a stop to efforts by the state Transportation Services Authority (TSA) to regulate the industry beyond federal laws that preempt state authority.

"There has been extreme concern expressed in various sectors of the transportation world in Nevada regarding the way the TSA has chosen to regulate the industry that in most places has been believed to be deregulated by the federal government and federal legislation," said Ellen Jean Winograd, a Reno attorney hired by the coalition to handle the suit.

She would not discuss particulars of a possible suit or say when it might be filed. However, she said the level of concern in the industry has risen to a point where the suit could be filed soon.

Fairman said he is turning to legal action because state legislators made a disaster this year of four separate state assembly bills that were written to address the problems and were supported by his group.

Two of the measures - one that would have abolished the TSA outright and another that would have required TSA employees to wear uniforms and drive marked vehicles - were stalled by lawmakers early on in this year's legislative session and were not allowed hearings.

Another bill that would have required the TSA to become consistent with federal preemption laws was passed by legislators, but was so extensively rewritten that it no longer resembled the original measure and, instead, gave the TSA additional regulatory authority.

"It was completely gutted and it doesn't do anything to help us," said Fairman.

The fourth measure, which would have done away with the TSA and turned its duties over to other state agencies, also passed, but was vetoed by the governor because it contained a controversial last minute amendment that hurt the taxi industry.

Gov. Kenny C. Guinn said he would have signed the legislation had it not included a provision prohibiting cab drivers from accepting tips from nightclub owners for bringing customers to their businesses.

"I cannot support (the legislation) because it singles out and hurts the financial well-being of taxicab drivers," he said, adding that he believes a majority of legislators would have backed the measure without the amendment involving cab drivers.

Fairman indicated that the transportation industry cannot wait for lawmakers to try to resolve the issues again because they only meet every two years and will not get together again for a regular session until 2007.

"The state doesn't want to make any changes," he said. "Instead, they want to push everything down peoples' throats."

He said he hopes motorcoach carriers in Nevada and throughout the country will help support the lawsuit against the state by contributing to a fund to help offset the cost.

Fairman can be reached by e-mail at nn@nostressexpress.com or bob@nostressexpress.com, or by telephone at (800) 426-5644.