The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) is touting the success of “the nation’s first automated enforcement program against overweight trucks” which was launched on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) last year.
In August 2023, New York City officials rolled out a new weigh-in-motion (WIM) system designed to automatically identify and ticket overweight trucks traveling on the BQE in downtown Brooklyn. The penalty for exceeding gross vehicle and/or axle or tandem weight limits on the BQE is $650.
A year after the WIM system went into effect, NYC DOT says that it has resulted in a “64 percent reduction in overweight vehicles along the triple cantilever of the BQE.” Before the WIM system went into effect, NYC DOT reported a monthly average of 7,777 overweight trucks on the BQE. After the automated enforcement went into effect, the monthly average dropped to 2,769 overweight trucks.
Officials plan to expand the use of the WIM system by the end of the year. “Following the success of Queens-bound enforcement on the BQE, NYC DOT plans to launch WIM enforcement for Staten Island-bound traffic by the end of 2024. As with the Queens-bound portion last year, activation of violations will follow a well-publicized 90-day warning period,” NYC DOT stated.
“New York City is leading the nation in efficiently and effectively keeping overweight trucks off the road through inground sensors on the BQE,” said Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi. “This transformational technology protects and prolongs the lifespan of our critical infrastructure, like the triple cantilever portion of the BQE, and improves safety for all road users. We’re grateful to our legislative partners who enabled this impactful program and look forward to expanding its use in New York City.”
“Last year, we launched the nation’s first automated enforcement program to protect the Brooklyn Queens Expressway from overweight vehicles – and it has yielded dramatic results,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Thanks to cutting edge roadway sensors, we have reduced the number of overweight vehicles on the BQE by 64 percent, reducing wear and tear on this critical infrastructure and extending its useful life.”