MTAC submits testimony on penalties for commercial trucks on parkways

MTAC President Joe Sculley submitted testimony in response to a bill that proposes to issue fines for commercial trucks that enter the Merritt Parkway. The fines would be one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for the first violation and five hundred dollars ($500) for each subsequent violation. Sculley’s testimony said, in part:

“MTAC is aware that, from time to time, a truck will end up on the Merritt Parkway, even though trucks are restricted from the Merritt Parkway. The trucks in question are not owned or operated by MTAC members. They are out-of-state trucks, which are very likely being driven by owner-operators, who are using Google GPS directions, rather than a service which is tailored to the trucking industry. Google GPS directions do not currently notify drivers of a truck restriction. However, ideally, that can change.

While this proposal may end up raising some revenue due to an increased fine, it most likely will not solve the problem. It, unfortunately, won’t prevent the out-of-state owner-operator who is following a Google GPS from getting on the Merritt if the directions tell him to do so.”

Sculley’s testimony went on to suggest that a more productive alternative would be to work with tech companies such as Google to urge them to incorporate truck restrictions into their systems.

A copy of the testimony is available for download as a PDF.