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Schumer Seeks Audit Of All NY Tour Bus Licenses

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is seeking an audit of all tour bus operators in New York following a fatal tour bus crash a week ago in New York City.

"We need to prevent people who have no business being behind the wheel of a vehicle from getting behind that wheel before the buses are loaded with dozens of passengers," Schumer said.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs on Schumer's demand for audits to be done on all bus drivers

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The New York Democrat is asking the state Department of Motor Vehicles to do the audit. He also said an audit would have helped prevent last weekend's deadly accident, in which the driver had violations under an alias. The driver, Ophadell Williams, has had his licenses suspended.

"The audit would have shown that the man behind the wheel shouldn't be behind the wheel and he wouldn't be driving," Schumer said.

LISTEN: 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck on the Senator's thoughts on requiring an audit

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The Cuomo administration has already mounted stepped-up spot checks of tour buses since the crash. The checks have forced several buses and drivers out of service.

Schumer says he's particularly concerned about drivers for low-cost tours often to casinos.

The goal for these audits is to prevent similar crashes from happening, Schumer added.

"The audit would take away the licenses of those who shouldn't be driving immediately before they get behind the wheel," Schumer said.

Schumer applauded Cuomo's efforts to increase unannounced inspections and says the DMV audit of drivers will augment that effort.

The Cuomo administration said records show the driver in the Bronx crash had violations under an alias and his driving privileges were suspended under another name.

The administration had no immediate comment.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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