Portland Truck Size And Weight Enforcement Operation Results In Citations

In six hours, the Oregon Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Transportation Division and Portland Police Bureau weighed more than 200 trucks during a one-day enforcement operation in north Portland. The Jan. 14 event was designed to ensure compliance with state and federal truck size and weight laws.

In Oregon, commercial vehicles over 20,000 pounds are required to meet size and weight regulations and submit to random weighings and inspections. Weighing and measuring trucks is an important activity that helps to ensure Oregon's roads are safe. Weighing trucks also guards Oregon's investment in its highways and bridges by protecting them from overloaded trucks and from trucks that may be too wide or too high.

During the north Portland industrial area event, 22 citations were issued, including 18 for overweight violations. One truck was cited for being 10,000 pounds overweight. It was the second citation the driver received from ODOT that day. He was cited earlier in the day for a weight violation by other enforcement officers. In addition, Portland Police Bureau cited three trucks for bypassing the scales.

 "Oregon has a reputation for strict enforcement of commercial vehicle size, weight and safety regulations," said Ed Scrivner, ODOT Motor Carrier Field Services manager. "With the help of our law enforcement partners, we are able to reinforce that message with this operation."

In Oregon, commercial vehicles pay a weight-mile tax instead of the fuel tax that passenger vehicles pay. The weight-mile tax is part of the funding Oregon uses to preserve and maintain roads and bridges.

For more information about ODOT Motor Carrier's enforcement and safety efforts visit http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/MCT 

For updated information on highway work and current travel information throughout Oregon, visit www.tripcheck.com , or call the Oregon road report at 511 or (800) 977-6368. Visit the ODOT News Media Center at www.oregon.gov/COMM