AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) inspected 7,865 commercial motor vehicles during a three-day inspection effort last month as part of Roadcheck 2015. DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers, specially trained Highway Patrol troopers and civilian inspectors joined forces from June 2 – June 4 during the annual inspection initiative aimed at enhancing commercial motor vehicle safety.
Approximately 21.7 percent (1,710) of the 18-wheelers, buses and other commercial vehicles inspected were placed out of service for a variety of safety violations until appropriate repairs could be made. Issues with brakes and defective vehicle lighting were among the most common infractions that led to out-of-service violations.
Additionally, drivers were checked for compliance with state and federal laws, and 212 drivers were placed out of service. Among the violations were failing to have the proper type of driver license for the vehicle being driven, improper logging of duty time and driving over the maximum number of hours. During the operation, DPS issued 1,947 citations and more than 21,312 warnings.
The annual Roadcheck program, sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, is designed to reduce commercial vehicle highway fatalities through increased vehicle and driver safety, education and law enforcement activities throughout North America.
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