Texas DPS Operation Roadcheck 2011 starts today

[two_bit_score]

Anyone else seen anything on this:


Troopers will seek unsafe drivers and vehicles during
72-hour commercial vehicle event
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During the 72-hour Roadcheck 2011 program this week, DPS troopers will be looking for 18-wheeler drivers who have been driving too long, or are otherwise operating unsafe commercial vehicles. They値l also be looking at passenger buses to make sure that theyæ±*e operating safely.
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Although DPS enforces commercial vehicle laws every day of the year, troopers will join with law enforcement officers in the U.S., Mexico and Canada from June 7 to 9 in emphasizing driving safety.
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Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers, noncommissioned inspectors and specially trained Highway Patrol troopers will stop thousands of commercial vehicles to inspect safety equipment and check driver log books, driver licenses and endorsements. Inspectors will also look for possible drug or alcohol use.
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I see a lot of commercial vehicles on the road that should be checked out. Good on them!

 

[Bird]

They did the same thing last year and took 1,738 vehicles (25% of those checked) off the road. You can go to Google.com or Bing.com and enter "Texas DPS Operation Roadcheck 2010" or 2011 to read about them.

 

[Duffster]

Doesn't stuff like this only prove that they are not really doing their job the rest of the time?

 

[Bird]

Doesn't stuff like this only prove that they are not really doing their job the rest of the time?

Not really. Only specially trained officers are allowed to pull commercial vehicles off the road for inspection. I don't know whether all the DPS troopers are trained for that or not, but I doubt it. I know most cities only have a very small percentage of their officers trained for that job. I don't know what the staffing levels are in the Texas DPS, but I know when I started in law enforcement in 1964, the city of Dallas, which had about a third as many officers as they now have, even then had about twice as many as the state had for the whole state. So they're spread pretty thin. I imagine when they have these periodic things, they bring in the off duty officers and probably spend quite a bit on overtime. DISCLAIMER: That's what I think they do; no personal knowledge.

 

[jinman]

Doesn't stuff like this only prove that they are not really doing their job the rest of the time?

I think what it proves is that some people will try to get by with unsafe vehicles even when it is advertised that increased enforcement will be happening. I'm shocked that the dates are published. What would the numbers be if this were done unannounced? I'm especially happy that they are also checking private charter busses. I think they are saving lives.:thumbsup:

 

[PoorMansCat]

where I work, we just had a big "safety and DOT compliance" meeting... It was about this exact subject. TxDOT is stepping up inspection/enforcement of all DOT vehicles. Including F550 service trucks... basically ANYTHING 10,001 and up total CGVWR.. Follong the letter of the law to the nnnth degree, you would be completely surprised on how few vehicles would really pass a thorough road side inspection!.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Follong the letter of the law to the nnnth degree, you would be completely surprised on how few vehicles would really pass a thorough road side inspection!.

I agree. Any inspector can find something wrong. Even with a brand new truck and trailer with zero miles.

I am a pilot and we go though inspections on our airplanes. Its all up to the inspector and what he thinks is acceptable. Same holds true for us. If we followed every letter of the law to the nnnth degree, you would never get off the ground. It comes down to what is the risk? Eliminate as much as you can wither its driving a Honda Civic or a 747.

Chris

 

[kwswan]

This is not just a txdot thing,this is nationwide.It has been going on for several years now,although the times i have been on the road while it was happening i never saw anything out of the ordinary.
Some states just work harder than others.

 

[chopped]

Doesn't stuff like this only prove that they are not really doing their job the rest of the time?

Yes that was my first thought also...:laughing:

 

[TroyR57]

It helps drivers, that have companys that make them drive un safe trucks, and want let them shut them down... I know, if you sign the pre-trip, it should be OK, but some times the companys just say, work today, and shut it down after you take care of this or that. etc. I just shut my truck down last friday, I had the odometer quit, but crawling under neath to see if a cable came undone, I found smal exahust leaks from between, clamps. the other is a electric, and part ordered, so I worked today, with truck, using a tom tom for speed info, but the exahust leaks were fixed!!! Part was ordered for the other and is now in, the truck is at shop and we should be ready to go tomorrow morning.