WASHINGTON -- Federal regulators on Capital Hill are looking for answers as to why a bus from Monterrey overturned on its way to Houston. But another question that has requlators stumped is why the bus was allowed to cross the border.

"We will examine how this accident bus came to be operated as a legally registered motor coach, when in fact it should not have been," said Deborah Hersman, Chairman of the Federal Inquiry.

The accident occurred in January 2008 near Victoria. The crash killed one person and injured 47 others.

In Tuesday’s hearing, the chairman of the Federal Inquiry claimed that it appeared the bus operator, Capricorn Bus Lines, took advantage of loopholes to get the bus registered

"It appears the operator of this bus went to some pains to register it in two different states, using false or storefront addresses, and employing a third party to do the paperwork," said Hersman

She said that if the owner did do this, it would be a way for him to get a state license plate for a bus that did not meet federal standards.

She also said that this could be a widespread problem.

"There might be others using the same scheme," said Hersman.

The hearing also covered another important issue: Busses entering Texas from Mexico without being inspected.

One of the reasons busses slip through across the border is because the DPS and Federal Motor Carrier Administration don't have enough people or resources to inspect every one of them.

"We follow North American inspection procedures. We inspect as many of the buses as we can," said David Palmer of the DPS.

According to federal investigators, the bus that crashed near Victoria was checked by customs officers when it entered the country just hours before the accident.  However, they did not conduct a safety inspection, as no DPS or federal inspectors were on duty.

The hearing on the accident will continue on Wednesday.