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Police patrolling for overweight trucks

Fines totaled more than $120,000 for 2011  in Butler County.

Butler County Deputy Sheriff Mike Day stops a truck on southbound Interstate 75 Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. Deputy Mike Day spends his shifts watching for semi trucks that may be violating the law with overlimit loads or improper permits. In 2011, 129 citations for trucking violations raised $124,000 in fines. Of that, $90,992 went back to the county engineer's office for road and bridge upkeep.

Staff photo by Gary Stelzer Butler County Deputy Sheriff Mike Day stops a truck on southbound Interstate 75 Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. Deputy Mike Day spends his shifts watching for semi trucks that may be violating the law with overlimit loads or improper permits. In 2011, 129 citations for trucking violations raised $124,000 in fines. Of that, $90,992 went back to the county engineer's office for road and bridge upkeep.

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer 9:15 PM Friday, February 10, 2012

The number of trucks cited for driving with oversized loads on local roadways has increased during the past three years, causing concern for those in charge of repairing the damage.

Nationwide big trucks cause an estimated $1 billion in premature highway deterioration and as much as $500 million in bridge damage, according to the county engineer’s office. The problem is severely aggravated by trucks that exceed legal weight limits.

County commissioners recently approved an agreement between the engineers office and the sheriff’s office to pay the $82,000 salary for a deputy to patrol county roadways to keep oversized trucks off roads.

The deputy, armed with scales, a calculator and a ticket book, helps keep wear and tear on Butler County’s roads to a minimum and issues citations, resulting in thousands of dollars in fines for street repair.

“We are not in it to make money,” Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens said. “There is an expense for this office. But I would hate to see where we would be without it.”

Deputy Mike Day spends his shifts watching for semi trucks that may be violating the law with over limit loads or improper permits. In 2011, 129 citations for trucking violations raised $124,000 in fines, up from $65,000 in 2009. Of that, $90,992 went back to the county engineer’s office for road and bridge upkeep.

The remainder is distributed to various funds and the municipality where the violation occurred.

“I am getting into a pretty good groove,” Day said.

Counties with more than 40 miles of paved roads are required by state law to have one deputy enforcing vehicle load limits. Some counties in recent years have left their mobile weight units parked due to personnel and economic shortages, but said it is well worth the expense. In the region, Clermont County, the City of Hamilton and Cincinnati have units.

Wilkens said 2011 fines paid for 97 percent of his department’s expense and kept the county’s bridges and roads safer.

Middletown, West Chester Twp. and the east side of the county are prime locations for truck traffic, Day said.

Bulging tires, excessive smoke exhaust, and difficulty getting up to road speed are signs a semi might be overloaded.

Stopping a vehicle, unloading huge scales and having the truck drive on top takes about 45 minutes. Fine amounts for overloaded semis are determined by how many pounds over the scales measure.

The largest citation amount Day has issued is $4,000.

“And he (the driver) didn’t say a word,” Day said.

Some drivers, especially those working for companies, are willing to take the risk to haul more with less trips.

“(F)or them, it is the cost of doing business,” Day said.

But for independent haulers, citations take cash out of their own pockets.

Don Madl, general manager for Diamond Heavy Haul and Diamond Trailer in Shandon, said his company deals with hauling mega loads and special permits and police escort or often required.

“For us there is no gray area, it’s either right or wrong,” Madl said.

Some drivers may bend the rules on five loads and get caught on the sixth, Madl said.

“They are likely considering that a part of doing business, but it is no good business.”

He added having a dedicated unit just to catch violations is definitely a deterrent.

“People in all walks of life play in the gray area. If there is no deterrent, that gray area gets bigger,” Madl said.

With Butler County’s growth, keeping a check on trucks rolling across area roadways is a must, according to officials tasked with the upkeep of one of the county’s height price tag investments - infrastructure.

But Day said it is not just bridges and roads that are effected by overloaded trucks. Heavy and shifting loads cause hazards to other motorists as well.

Legislation has been proposed to allow heavier trucks on road — up to 97,000 pounds for single-trailer trucks and 100,000 pounds for double- and triple-trailer trucks.

County engineers would be required to retest all local bridges and post new load limits, racking up the millions in compliance costs. Wilkens said all the more reason to continue to actively patrol for violators

“It keeps things in check,” he said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lauren.pack@coxinc.com.

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