Fung Wah Bus Company Fined

The Fung Wah bus company has been fined $31,100 for violating federal safety regulations linked to a rollover in Auburn, Mass. that injured dozens of passengers traveling from New York to Boston.

The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration said Fung Wah improperly hired drivers who couldn’t speak English and who regularly exceeded speed limits.

Both regulations were violated in the Sept. 5 bus accident, as well as previous bus rides reviewed by federal officials, the agency said.

“Motor coach operators must ensure that their operations are safe and their drivers are reliable,” said John H. Hill, the agency’s administrator, in announcing the fine.

In May, the agency fined the bus company $12,950 for speeding and failure to maintain proper driver records. Fung Wah offers low-price bus service between Boston and New York.

State regulators and representatives of the bus company met Monday to review a comprehensive safety plan for the bus service.

Following the Auburn accident, Fung Wah, which offers low-cost fares from Chinatown-to-Chinatown, agreed to implement reforms and allow routine inspections to keep operations going.