19 percent of trucks weighed this year overweight

Saturday, July 2, 2005 | 12:13 p.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

July 2-3, 2005

Of the 936 trucks the Nevada Highway Patrol Commercial Division has weighed in the Las Vegas Valley from January through May of this year, 175, or 19 percent, were overweight, according to data provided by the patrol's Sgt. Wayne Wick. Most of those trucks -- 149, or 85 percent -- were on secondary streets, not highways. Those violations resulted in nearly $224,000 in fines so far this year.

In 2004, about 8 percent of the nearly 5,000 commercial vehicles weighed by troopers in the Las Vegas Valley were overweight, resulting in more than $428,000 in fines. Of the 395 overweight trucks troopers caught in 2004, 325, or 82 percent, were in-state commercial vehicles operating on secondary streets, Wick said.

The national average is that 8.8 percent of the commercial trucks weighed by authorities are found to be overweight, according to data compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Out of about 3 million inspections nationwide in 2004, more than 264,000 commercial trucks were cited for a weight and/or size violation, according to the federal data.

The number of overweight trucks nationally has increased by more than 50,000 each year since 2002, when troopers found only 162,600 trucks in violation of the federal weight and/or size regulations.

Individual states, including Nevada, also have their own size and weight limits and set their own fines. Nevada's fines ratchet up when trucks go over 10,000 pounds overweight. Once they do, the fine becomes 8 cents for every pound beyond that threshold.

Trucks on our roads: In 2004, commercial trucks were involved in 13 percent of all fatal collisions in Southern Nevada, according to data providing by Trooper Angie Chavera, Highway Patrol spokeswoman. Commercial vehicles have been involved in 10 of the 34 highway fatalities in Southern Nevada this year through June 15, or 29 percent, Chavera said.

In a 2004 national study, about 23.9 percent of the trucks that were inspected had vehicle maintenance violations that put the trucks out of commission and 6.7 percent of drivers were out of compliance with federal laws governing commercial vehicles.

From January through May of this year, Nevada Highway Patrol troopers have inspected 2,307 vehicles in Southern Nevada and found 5,896 maintenance violations, ranging in severity from non-illuminated license plates to loose brake hoses, authorities said.

In 2004, Southern Nevada troopers found 18,884 violations during inspections of 7,728 vehicles, authorities said.