Rule 515-16-7-.05 - Baggage(1) Motor carriers will not be compelled to carry baggage of passengers, except hand baggage, the character, amount, size and value of which the motor carrier may limit by its rules or regulations, subject to the approval of the Commission.(2) Each passenger motor carrier shall provide duplicate checks for baggage, when requested, to and from all points on all routes covered by its certificate. Baggage checks shall be issued for baggage, when requested, upon presentation of valid transportation only when the owner of the baggage is also the owner of the transportation and is a bona fide passenger over the same line to the destination of the baggage. In the event that the passenger fails to take advantage of this checking service, and the baggage is retained in the physical possession of the owner, the company may proceed on the theory that the passenger has assumed full responsibility for his own baggage, and the company shall not be responsible to the passenger for loss or damage to said baggage. When, however, the passenger is required to surrender physical possession of his hand baggage upon entering the vehicle for storage in a separate compartment from that occupied by the passenger on the vehicle, the motor carrier shall provide duplicate identification tags for such hand baggage, and the motor carrier shall at all times furnish the drivers of its vehicles with an adequate supply of duplicate identification tags.(3) Excess baggage shall not be transported with charges collect on delivery, but the charges must be paid in advance.(4) At all agency destinations when arriving baggage is not immediately claimed by the passenger owner, the driver shall deliver same to the station agent and if delivered to owner on same date of arrival, no storage charge shall be made.(5) Baggage containing money, jewelry, negotiable paper, liquids, glassware, perishable or fragile articles, must not be checked or received for transportation without a declared valuation and where such declared value exceeds the value provided for in paragraph (g) carriers may assess additional charges according to tariffs filed with and approved by the Commission. If baggage is checked or delivered for transportation by a passenger without making manifest of such contents and the value thereof, the carrier shall not be liable therefore in excess of the amount provided for in paragraph (g) and may reject entirely when baggage contains any of the articles enumerated in paragraph (h), or is in the opinion of the operator or driver, too heavy, bulky, fragile, or not in proper condition.(6) Subject to the limitations and conditions set forth herein three pieces of hand baggage, not to exceed a total weight of one hundred pounds nor exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) in value, shall be carried free of charge for each adult passenger. Children traveling on less than adult fare shall be limited on the above basis in the proportion that the child's fare bears to the adult fare. No allowance shall be permitted on tickets purchased for the sole purpose of avoiding the payment of excess baggage.(7) Motor carriers of passengers, their drivers or their agents, shall not knowingly permit, and no person shall offer for transportation, any dangerous substance or material to be loaded in or upon any passenger carrying vehicle or to be stored as baggage in or upon the premises of any passenger bus station, which shall include the following but is not limited to the following: (b) Illegal narcotics, dangerous drugs, or controlled substances;(c) Materials of an offensive or disagreeable odor; or(d) Any hazardous material or article prohibited to be transported aboard a passenger carrying vehicle provided for under 49 C.F.R. § 177.870.(8) This rule does not apply to law enforcement officers carrying firearms.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 515-16-7-.05
Authority O.C.G.A. Secs. 46-7-20, 46-7-27.
Original Rule entitled "Baggage" adopted. F. June 10, 2008; eff. June 30, 2008.