Washington state regulators fine charter school bus company

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state regulators have fined a Cincinnati-based charter school bus company $23,700 for safety violations.

The News Tribune reported Sunday that the state Utilities and Transportation Commission found more than 150 violations of state and federal transportation safety law following a routine inspection of First Student in February.

The newspaper could not reach the company for comment.

The commission says the violations included 99 cases of the company failing to require drivers to prepare driver vehicle inspection reports and 44 cases of using drivers without pre-employment drug tests.

The commission has denied the company's request for mitigation, but it has agreed to suspend $10,000 of the fine if First Student meets safety requirements.

According to the company's website, it operates more than 500 buses in the state.