A city in Virginia recently doubled the cost of fines for truck drivers violating a daily truck ban, but even non-trucking residents say the charges are a little steep for drivers just trying to do their jobs.
City Council members in Norfolk, Virginia voted Tuesday to change the city code banning trucks from passing through Hampton Boulevard between Redgate Avenue and Terminal Boulevard between 4 p.m. and 6 a.m. The longstanding rule has been enforced by signs and a $250 fine, but drivers who violate the code will now see a $500 fine for the same offense.
“In addition to it being a quality of life issue, it’s certainly a safety issue. We just want to make sure they are where they are, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. People know to expect them then. And so, therefore, when they drive before 6 or after 4 or if they’re crossing the streets or biking, they know that they really shouldn’t expect to see trucks driving on Hampton Boulevard at those times,” said Norfolk City Councilwoman Courtney Doyle to 13 News Now.
“The residents have forever complained about trucks that are traveling before 6 and after 4,” she claimed. However, several residents say that the area is a reasonable corridor for trucks traveling to and from the ports, and that the drivers are just doing their jobs.
“For trucks, this is the main area, picking up all the stuff coming from the ships,” said resident Winston Carter.
“They’re not getting the point of view of the truck drivers,” added a resident who went by the name of Mizion. “They have to pay money because they’re doing their job? It’s a little too much,”
The fine and code changes went into effect immediately and are already in place.