NW Trailways fined for overloading bus

Northwest Trailways, based in Spokane, has been fined $800 for overloading a bus traveling from Leavenworth to Monroe, forcing eight passengers to stand in the aisle for the 85-mile trip. An investigation by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission found the bus line violated safety regulations when forcing passengers to stand for a distance of greater than 35 miles during a Jan. 6 trip, the WUTC said in a news release. The bus has a capacity of 56 passengers. The investigation resulted from a passenger complaint. Northwest Trailways has six routes through Washington and Idaho and served 90,000 passengers last year, the WUTC said.