After 2 Party Bus Incidents, Some Questions
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Two teens are now in the hospital after they got stabbed minutes after getting off a bus.
The stabbing happened around 10:30 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of Bass Lake Road and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Center.
Police are checking surveillance tape to see if they can find the person responsible. The teens are recovering at North Memorial.
This is the second incident involving a party bus in the last week. Two people were arrested last Friday, also in Brooklyn Center, after a fight broke out on another party bus.
With party buses becoming more popular, WCCO-TV wondered about rules and regulations.
Bob Lind's father started Minnesota Party Bus more than 30 years ago. He says after a shift in regulation from state to federal about a decade ago, the market has become saturated.
Lind says as a result it's harder now for consumers to find the companies who adhere more strictly to the rules.
"There's just so many companies out there, they can't keep up with them," he said. "They're popping up left and right."
Lind says when the state of Minnesota used to regulate the limo bus industry near a decade ago, it was virtually impossible to just start up a bus company.
It's a different story now.
"As long as you abide by the regulations, anybody can own a party bus company just like anybody can own a construction company," Lind said.
The regulations are determined by the US Department of Transportation. Lind says regulations include insurance, drug and alcohol testing for all the drivers, and a valid license.
As for Minnesota Party Bus' policy on underage drinking, they say they keep strict communication with parents and make the rules known up front.
"If something goes wrong, [the drivers] have the authority to call 911 right away," Lind said.
He tells all his drivers to feel out the situation before letting groups on the bus -- something he says he doesn't believe is an industry standard.
"If you can't tell there's going to be problems when you pick this group up at the beginning of the night, then you shouldn't be in this business," Lind said.
At the end of the day, he says the reason to choose a party bus in the first place is because of safety.
"It's about the people having a safe night out and getting home safe," Lind said.
WCCO-TV called the two party bus companies involved in last week's and Saturday's incidents. The owner of Midnight Madness Party Bus, the bus transporting the two men arrested last week, wants people to know immediately after the incident, everybody on the bus was forced to find their own ride home.
Our calls weren't returned from Black and White Rental Bus.
