Beginning last night and continuing into the early morning hours of today, members of the Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division conducted an intense enforcement initiative targeting unsafe and overweight commercial vehicles in Prince George’s County.
Called “Operation Tailgate,” the effort targeted commercial trucks and buses traveling through Interstate 495 in Prince George’s County. Interstate 495 is one of the identified commercial vehicle high crash corridors in Maryland.
Throughout the night, troopers, truck inspectors, and K-9 units from the State Police, in conjunction with inspectors from the Maryland Department of Environment, Montgomery County Police, and Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, inspected commercial vehicle traffic. Commercial vehicles were directed off the Capital Beltway at Arena Drive, to a temporary inspection and weigh facility at Fed Ex Field.
In addition to the stationary inspection area, numerous State Police commercial vehicle teams patrolled I-495 looking for truck drivers who failed to exit onto Arena Drive as directed by signs. The patrols also conducted enforcement activities on commercial vehicles speeding or other unsafe behavior.
A total of 351 commercial vehicles were inspected. Of those, 35 vehicles were placed out-of-service due to serious equipment violations. Another 25 drivers were placed out-of-service. Twenty of those drivers were shut down because they either had a false logbook or were driving/working beyond the hours permitted by federal regulation. The other four drivers did not have the proper commercial driver’s license. One bus driver was placed out-of-service for being medically unqualified to operate a commercial vehicle.
Troopers issued 108 traffic citations and 128 warnings. Two drivers were arrested on outstanding warrants. The passenger of a commercial truck was arrested for possession of marijuana.
This focused enforcement effort is one in a series of initiatives conducted by the Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division in cooperation with allied state and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies. The purpose of the ongoing efforts is to ensure trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles, as well as those who drive them, meet state and federal safety regulations and comply with all laws intended to promote safety on Maryland roads.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
4 comments:
This is just one of the many reasons why Maryland is considered hostile towards businesses.
My advise to truckers - stay out of Maryland. Let the Maryland National guard, State Police, PG Sheriff Department truck in the goods and services.
If the residences have to suffer - maybe Maryland will eventually change.
As the truckers have learned first hand - it is easier to go out of business in Maryland than to stay in business.
Any particular reason you had to post this 3 times, JOE?
This enforcement is all well and good but when are you going to do something similar for 4 wheelers and yes, even COPS?
On a Friday night/Saturday morning? How many of those truckers live in the area and were just trying to make it home? Yes, I know it's still illegal but come on. Who wouldn't stretch it a little to make it home? (If that's even the case)
How many rookies were you guys trying to train? How many officers needed the hours to be compliant with their careers? How many rest areas are you going to build so truckers can find a place to get some rest?
How many killings and robberies took place while you're out collecting revenue from people trying to make a living? When are you going to target shippers and receivers, and even dispatchers, for schelduling impossible pickup and delivery times?
Why do you guys always seem to go after the symptons rather than the cause? Oh, that's right, I almost forgot. It's the MONEY! Being about safety is just a buzz word to make the public think you're doing your job.
You can fool the public, after all they really have no clue but, you can't fool the ones who have the displeasure of having to deal with you and your stupid rookie trainees.
We all love you so don't take this the wrong way when I say, GO F YOURSELVES!!!
And no, I wasn't one of the ones who got a ticket.
Anon 0254 -
Glitch in Blogger. Thanks for the heads up though. I'm deleting the other two.
No problem G.A. Thanks for explaining in a polite manner.
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