Senator William H. Nickerson (R-Greenwich) announced his support for the interstate truck safety initiative announced today by Governor Jodi Rell.

The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, with its partners from the Connecticut State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Rhode Island State Police, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, will kick off a three-day, Tri-State Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Operation.  This initiative, the first of its kind, will take place in each host state over a three-day period, with Law Enforcement from all three states assisting the “host” on its designated day:

                        Day # 1 – 8/28/06:  Connecticut
                        Day # 2 – 8/30/06:  Massachusetts
                        Day # 3 – 8/31/06:  Rhode Island

Nickerson said, “I very much welcome this initiative to improve truck safety on Connecticut’s highways.  The deadly truck collision that took place earlier this year on Avon Mountain highlights the importance of complying with safety requirements.  I am also particularly pleased that this is taking place in cooperation with our neighboring states.  For too long Connecticut has not cooperated sufficiently with our neighbors on transportation and truck safety issues.”

Troopers will be particularly focusing on:

• Brake checks, as part of a Nationwide National Commercial Brake Check Week
• Intercepting trucks who deliberately evade truck weigh stations
• Saturating the areas with Troopers detecting high-risk behavior

- 0 -