The Times West Virginian

Local News

April 5, 2008

UPDATE — Police crack down on oversized trucks at night on W.Va. Turnpike

BECKLEY — Police are cracking down on trucks with wide payloads on the West Virginia Turnpike.

State law prohibits such trucks from driving on West Virginia’s highways between sunset and sunrise. Truck drivers sometimes take advantage of relaxed enforcement at night, said Tyrone Gore, the state Parkways Authority’s director of operations.

“Police are watching more closely than they were in the past,” he said. “They are starting to look at it because it’s getting to be more of a problem and a concern.”

In addition to State Police, which patrol the turnpike, the state Public Service Commission has law enforcement officers who recently have adjusted their work schedules to allow for nighttime patrols.

Most states have similar laws, said C.L. Brunty, manager of the PSC’s Transportation Division.

“The law keeps overdimension loads off the highway at night because if you come up to a 15-foot or 16-foot-wide load, you can’t see it,” he said.

He said drivers of wide payloads need to plan ahead so they aren’t caught trying to find a place to stop after sunset.

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