What is the driver's responsibility regarding the passenger vehicle's posted capacity placard?

VEHICLE CAPACITY COMPLIANCE is the driver's direct responsibility once behind the wheel. WHAT THE PLACARD SHOWS: Seating capacity (number of passengers who can be seated with each in a designated seat); standing capacity where applicable (transit buses); total maximum occupancy including driver and any crew; LEGAL AUTHORITY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require passenger-carrying CMVs to have a capacity placard or marking and prohibit operation above that rated capacity; the vehicle manufacturer certifies the capacity based on structural design, seatbelt provisions, and safety calculations; DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY: Count passengers before departure on charter and fixed-route intercity services; be aware of running total on transit services (use fare collection or door counters as tools); refuse boarding when at capacity; for school buses specifically, the driver must verify student count matches the pickup list; WEIGHT CONSIDERATIONS: Capacity is based on occupants — baggage and cargo added to the load are separate considerations; an overloaded bus can exceed GVWR even without exceeding the occupancy count; consider both people count and total vehicle weight; CONSEQUENCES OF OVERCROWDING: Emergency evacuation is impaired when there are more occupants than designed; in a crash, overcrowded buses have higher injury rates; carriers can be fined and vehicles placed out of service for capacity violations.