Pennsylvania State Police issued hundreds of citations to a truck drivers who violated a weather-related commercial vehicle ban over the weekend.
Ahead of a heavy winter storm, Pennsylvania transportation officials placed a truck travel ban into effect on certain roadways on Sunday, March 3, and lifted it on Monday, March 4, when weather conditions improved.
Troopers say that they issued 245 citations for “failing to observe travel restrictions during a state of emergency” to commercial vehicle drivers who violated the ban, according to a news release from the Pennsylvania State Police. Troopers also issued 14 warnings during the truck ban.
Troopers say that there were eight commercial vehicle crashes on restricted roadways while the ban was in effect.
State police say that they issued fewer citations than they did during previous truck bans because there were fewer restrictions placed on the roadways this time.
Each of the 245 citations carries with it a $300 fine in a addition to court costs, meaning that truckers who violated the travel ban will pay up to the tune of $73,500.
Troopers say that they have issued 2,065 citations (with fines amounting to a total of $619,500) to truck drivers who have ignored commercial vehicle travel bans during 2019’s three major winter storms.
“The Pennsylvania State Police continues to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the PA Turnpike, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to appropriately restrict roadways in an effort to reduce commercial vehicle crashes and prevent injuries,” said Major James Basinger, director of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Patrol. “The team effort between agencies is used to keep the roadways open throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”