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School bus fleets and private passenger bus companies in New York state and the Capital Region were failing safety inspections at rates of between four and seven out of 10 buses. The violations involved faulty brakes and similar safety concerns. These were not surprise inspections, but rather visits scheduled two or more weeks in advance every six months. The state Department of Transportation became alarmed, privately, months before. A plan was created to address the problem, but little if any action took place. The backdrop for the story is a new administration under a governor who promised to be more business friendly.