COLUMBUS - A total of 776 citations and 599 warnings were issued over the one-day enforcement effort earlier this week involving commercial motor vehicle enforcement personnel from state police and highway patrol agencies in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. The Sept. 12 combined enforcement project aimed at improving the safety of commercial vehicle traffic.

Out of the citations given, 30 were handed out for drivers in violation of the Move Over/Slow Down Law, which requires motorists to move over or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles with their lights activated.

Violations that were targeted included: speed, careless driving, equipment violations, driver qualifications, hours of service, hazardous material transportation and oversized/overweight vehicles, and vehicles in violation of the Move Over/Slow Down Law.

During the one-day enforcement effort a total of 1290 inspections were conducted by the participating agencies resulting in 1,531 equipment violations. One hundred eleven of these violations were serious violations which placed the vehicle out-of-service until repaired. A total of 685 driver violations were enforced, including 361 drivers cited for speeding. There were also 53 drivers placed out-of-service for serious violations ranging from exceeding authorized driving time to commercial driver license violations. Participating agencies also recorded 65 hazardous materials violations.

“Recent fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles underscore the need for a continued focus on traffic enforcement efforts, especially in the heavily traveled commercial vehicle corridors,” Colonel Richard H. Collins, Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent, said. “Ohio State Highway Patrol commercial vehicle enforcement officers will continue closely working with their colleagues from Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan to reduce the number of fatalities and crashes occurring due to driver error and unsafe vehicles.”

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