Enforcement of commercial vehicle regulations is an essential element of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's mission. The Cabinet is charged with the task of identifying unsafe vehicles and drivers and removing them from operation, thus keeping our roadways safe for all users. In addition, the Cabinet must monitor compliance with weight regulations in order to protect the public's investment in the roadway infrastructure. Finally, the Cabinet must monitor compliance with administrative regulations and taxes, to protect the revenue base and ensure that highway costs are properly allocated to all users. To accomplish the many vital functions of commercial vehicle administration and enforcement, the Transportation Cabinet has invested heavily in large, state-of-the-art weigh/inspection facilities. These facilities are among the finest in the nation, allowing the Cabinet to do an excellent job of regulation and enforcement on the roadways where these facilities are located. However, a great deal of the commercial vehicle traffic in Kentucky travels on roadways that are not monitored by weigh/inspection facilities. Trucks traveling on these roadways are not subject to the same level of regulation and enforcement that they would encounter on the monitored routes. In fact, even on routes that are monitored by a weigh/inspection facility, trucks are often able to bypass the facility by taking a short detour on an alternate route. As a result, the effectiveness of Kentucky's commercial vehicle regulation and enforcement efforts is severely compromised. Like many other states, Kentucky uses mobile enforcement units to extend coverage to more roadways. However, the number of mobile units is inadequate for the number of routes that must be monitored. In addition, the location of mobile units is quickly communicated among truckers (primarily via citizens band radios), allowing them to avoid these units by waiting them out or taking alternate routes. When truckers are able to avoid regulation and enforcement, the potential exists for unsafe trucks and drivers to remain in operation, thus compromising safety for all roadway users. In addition, overweight trucks cause a dramatic acceleration in the rate of roadway deterioration. Finally, when truckers avoid paying taxes and fees, state revenues are affected and the honest trucker is placed at a competitive disadvantage.
Samenvatting