Trucker fined for exceeding weight
A West Virginia man was fined nearly $20,000 related to the load on his truck allegedly being over by more than 63,000 pounds.
State police cited Jeffrey Beckett, 48, of Pickaway for exceeding the maximum weight he could carry on his truck on Route 40 at Route 119 in North Union Township on Tuesday by 63,172 pounds. Beckett works for T.K. Stanley trucking company in Waunesboro, Miss.
Cpl. Bruce Nordmark said in a release that Beckett was driving an oversize load for Marcellus shale gas well development, and had a permit to drive on the George Marshall Parkway to Route 21.
However, Nordmark indicated, Beckett did not go that way because the load on the truck was taller than he was permitted to haul. Instead, Beckett exited at Main Street and tried to go under a bridge, but the top of the load hit the bridge several times, police alleged.
The state Department of Transportation is evaluating damage to that bridge, police said.
When police stopped Beckett, authorities inspected the truck, and it was found to be overweight.
The total fines assessed were $19,600, and Beckett couldn’t post collateral for the fines so he spent until Wednesday in the Fayette County Prison.
On Wednesday, Beckett paid $11,100 and pleaded guilty to three citations before Magisterial District Judge Wendy Dennis. He was released from prison and is on a payment plan for the remaining $8,505 in fines and costs.
Patrol Sgt. Joseph D’Andrea said that the fine for having excess weight on the truck was so steep because of how the state assesses fines for that violation. For the first 3,000 pounds over the allowed weight limit, there is a $150 fine, and the fine increases to $150 for each 500 pounds, or partial 500 pounds, after that.
Other fines assessed had to do with Beckett not having a permit to travel the way that he did. D’Andrea said that when drivers receive a permit to use a certain route, they cannot stray from it.
While there hasn’t been a drastic increase in the number of truck drivers and companies facing these types of fines, D’Andrea said that he anticipates that there will be an increase as there is an increase in Marcellus shale-related projects.
“I expect to see a lot more,” he said.