1930 was the only year that New Mexico had a
license plate that was explicitly embossed “BUS,” and from the
information found on their weight/capacity seals one can infer that they
were used for both buses and taxis. This plate was superseded in 1931 by
the C-prefix commercial plate with either a “Taxi” or “Bus” seal
affixed.
In New Mexico buses and taxis were in the early years closely allied
classes of vehicles which were differentiated by law as follows:
Taxicabs: Motor vehicles for the transportation of persons for hire,
having a normal seating capacity of not more than seven persons.
Bus: Motor vehicles for the transportation of persons for hire, having a
normal seating capacity in excess of seven persons.
There might be little difference in the appearance, therefore, between a
7-passenger taxi and an 8-passenger bus. And an examination of the seals
on these plates shows that they don’t always follow the above
definitions.
In 1955 a new type of Bus plate was introduced, bearing just a prefix of
“B.”
Note: The weight/capacity seals used on these plates
are commonly called “tabs” today, but during the years they were in use
the only name applied to them was “seal.” |
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Commercial bus operator (driver) manuals for two of the
interstate bus companies operating in New Mexico in the 1970s and
earlier: New Mexico Transportation Company, and Texas, New Mexico &
Oklahoma Coaches. These manuals cover not only the usual
driving rules of the road, but also state company policy on how the bus
driver is to handle many different situations likely to be encountered,
including, but not limited to, neatness and cleanliness of uniform,
drunkenness or gambling on or off duty, personal conduct in interaction
with passengers, and so forth. Additionally, there are numerous rules
for dealing with passengers in a wide variety of circumstances, such as
not presenting a valid ticket, handling intoxicated and demented
passengers, passengers spitting on the floor, harassing or otherwise
annoying other passengers, attempting to bring large packages or bundles
inside the coach rather than checking them, ejection of passengers for
disorderly or offensive conduct, etc. |
