Nearly $15,000 in penalties issued to Martinson Piano Moving for safety violations

Media Contact: 360-664-1116 or [email protected]
Docket Number: TV-240750

LACEY, Wash. - In October, the Utilities and Transportation commission issued a $14,900 penalty to Martinson Piano Moving, LLC (Martinson Piano or Company) for over 140 safety violations found during a routine safety investigation.

During the investigation, staff identified 149 violations of driver and vehicle safety rules committed by the moving company. Staff found that the company failed to annually inspect its commercial motor vehicle and allowed three drivers to operate without a valid medical certificate on 148 occasions. Martinson Piano was cooperative throughout the safety investigation.

The UTC is authorized to assess a penalty of up to $100 for each critical violation, resulting in a total penalty of $14,900.

Martinson Piano responded to the penalty assessment by admitting the violations and requesting mitigation of the penalty amount. The company claimed that the violations were unintentional and described how they would meet compliance requirements in the future, such as updating their calendars for medical certificate renewal periods.

On Nov. 14, the UTC instead suspended $9,900 of the penalty for two years. The penalty may be waived upon satisfaction of certain conditions.

Martinson Piano Moving, LLC is a household goods moving company offering services between Everett and Olympia.

The UTC regulates the rates and services of household goods movers, investor-owned electric utilities, telecommunications, natural gas, and water companies, solid waste collection companies, charter-bus companies, commercial ferries, pipeline companies, and a low-level radioactive waste repository. The commission does not regulate the rates of broadband services, cellular, cable, or internet services.

###