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COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION SATURATION HELD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17,2012
Bismarck, N.D. – The North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) conducted a commercial motor vehicle inspection saturation event last week. This three-day event, held near Berthold, Tioga, and Williston, focused on inspecting both commercial vehicles and drivers for compliance with federal and state regulations.
A total of 85 safety inspections were performed with 147 vehicles inspected. The inspections revealed 16 of the vehicles with equipment violations that required them to be placed out of service. One commercial driver was placed out of service for driver-related violations.
Four commercial vehicles were weighed and three of those vehicles were found to be in excess of legal weight allowances. Overload fees of $18,200 were collected. Excessive vehicle weights contribute to accelerated deterioration of roadway surfaces resulting in safety concerns for motorists and expensive repairs for taxpayers.
The NDHP will continue to schedule these special saturation events to improve both awareness and compliance of important commercial motor vehicle and driver safety regulations.
NDHP AIRCRAFT ENHANCES ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2012
BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) conducted a right-of- way saturation effort in the Northwestern Region near Williston last week. The enforcement effort involved NDHP aircraft surveillance of rural highway intersections. Information regarding violations observed by the pilots was transmitted via radio to NDHP troopers that were strategically located on the ground near the intersection. The three-hour detail was held to bring heightened attention to the dangers created when motorists fail to make responsible decisions at intersections.
A total of 21 citations were issued during this saturation effort. A majority of the citations were issued for right of way violations, including failing to stop at stop signs or yielding the right of way. Several motorists were also cited for failing to wear their seatbelts.
NDHP troopers involved in the saturation effort also identified a truck that appeared to be overloaded. Further investigation determined the truck to be 11,000 pounds in excess of the legal weight allowance. A fee of $1,100 was assessed to the driver.
Right-of-way violations are one of the leading crash causation factors on North Dakota roadways and contributed to the deaths of 24 motorists during 2011. Seventy-two percent of the motorists who have died in North Dakota traffic crashes since January were not wearing their seatbelts.
NIGHTTIME COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SATURATION HELD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7th, 2012
The North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) recently conducted a nighttime commercial vehicle safety saturation effort in northwestern North Dakota. This traffic safety effort focused on ensuring driver and vehicle compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) standards and North Dakota vehicle size and weight restrictions.
North Dakota roadways are damaged by excessive vehicle weights. This roadway damage is expensive to repair and creates hazardous conditions for motorists. Non-compliance with FMCSA standards contributes to unsafe drivers and vehicles. Drivers found to be operating vehicles in excess of legal weights are assessed overload fees and certain FMCSA violations require the driver or vehicle to be placed out of service.
A total of $3,200 was assessed to drivers of six overweight vehicles during this overnight enforcement effort. Two drivers were placed out of service for hours of service violations. As of April 30, the NDHP has assessed $1,096,730 in overload fees.
PROMOTION AND REASSIGNMENT OF TROOPER CHRISTOPHER D. MESSER
For Immediate Release: May 4,2012
BISMARCK, ND − Superintendent of the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) Colonel James Prochniak announces the promotion and reassignment of Trooper Christopher D. Messer. Effective May 1, 2012, Trooper Messer was promoted to the rank of sergeant and assigned to serve as supervisor in the NDHP Southwest Region. Messer will be stationed in Dickinson.
Sergeant Messer began his career with the Patrol in September 2000 by attending the Highway Patrol Academy. Upon graduation, he was stationed as a trooper in New Salem where he served until his transfer to Dickinson in July 2006 where he served until his current promotion and reassignment.
Sergeant Messer graduated from Dickinson State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in history education.
NIGHTTIME WEIGHT ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS INCREASE
For Immediate Release: April 23, 2012
The North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) recently held a nighttime weight enforcement saturation effort in northwestern North Dakota. The saturation resulted in a total of 16 vehicles being weighed. Six of the 16 vehicles were found to be carrying weights in excess of legal limits.
The expanding economy in North Dakota has prompted the NDHP to modify its weight enforcement strategies to better protect roadways and infrastructure. While it's not unusual for the trucking industry to be present on North Dakota roadways 24 hours a day, the recent spike in oil activity has resulted in a substantial increase in truck traffic in northwestern North Dakota. “Our commanders are committed to using their resources in an effort to protect our roadways and the motorists who utilize them,” stated NDHP Superintendent James Prochniak.
North Dakota roadways are damaged by excessive vehicle weights. This roadway damage is expensive to repair and creates dangerous conditions for motorists. Drivers found to be operating vehicles in excess of legal weights are assessed overload fees. A total of $6,460 was assessed to the drivers of the overloaded vehicles during this overnight enforcement effort. Year to date, the NDHP has assessed $914,090 in overload fees.
