Highway Patrol

action confuses

local truckers, Goss says
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

Local truckers are wondering whether size matters as they have raised concerns about the allowable lengths of tractor trailers on rural roads.

N.C. Sen. Steve Goss (D-45) said the issue came to his attention in December when several constituents called him saying they had received tickets for using 53-foot-long semi-trailers on local roads. The N.C. Highway Patrol issued citations for $200 for violations, and confusion has arisen over where the trucks are allowable.

Goss asked the Attorney General’s office for an interpretation of the existing statues and the state Division of Motor Vehicles is also exploring the maps that determine which highways are prohibited for longer trucks.

A letter from transportation secretary Lyndo Tippett said “Owners and drivers have asserted that the Department of Transportation and the Highway Patrol have misconstrued the law in determining that semitrailers over 50 feet may not be used on the local highway system. The highways where use of semi trailers over 50 feet in length is currently prohibited are identified in so-called ‘red-line maps’ published by the Department of Transportation and used by the Highway Patrol enforcement activity.”

Goss said the problem was particularly hindering during the Christmas tree season, when some truckers hauling trees were issued citations. Ewing Harmon, president of the Watauga Nurserymen’s Association, said he’d heard of the problem but he’d not received any citations while using a 53-foot tractor trailer for hauling.

Goss said three-quarters of the tractor trailers in use were 53 feet long and he was concerned about the economic impact of the limitation.

“I understand this has been a long-standing law,” Goss said, noting the “red-line maps” show such roads all over the state. “Some of the truckers were becoming a little leery of traveling on certain roads in Watauga and Ashe (counties). There are absolutely roads all over North Carolina where a 53-foot trailer is illegal.”

Goss said he was encouraged that Tippett and the Highway Patrol were taking action to address the current restrictive use of semitrailers over 50 feet in length. “I’ve been told that’s (53-foot trailer) the norm,” he said.

“Certainly, we want to emphasize the safety issue, but obviously these have been used for a long time. I have been assured that safety goals can be met by ensuring that equipment is up to standard and speeding laws are enforced properly.”

Goss said if the Attorney General doesn’t issue a favorable ruling on the interpretation, it could be addressed by the General Assembly in May.