Enforcement Initiative Conducted Throughout the State to Reduce Commercial Motor Vehicle Crashes

On December 18, 2019 members of New Hampshire State Police – Troop G conducted an enforcement initiative to reduce the amount of motor vehicle crashes involving commercial motor vehicles. Troopers from Troop G specifically focused their enforcement efforts on ensuring that vehicles were driving in a safe manner, as well as that commercial motor vehicle drivers were compliant with hours of service, that those drivers had obtained proper licensing credentials, and that commercial motors vehicles were in safe mechanical operating condition by conducting inspections of them throughout the State of New Hampshire. Members of Troop G are highly skilled Troopers who have received specialized training to conduct roadside inspections of commercial motor vehicles.

During the daylong event, Troopers inspected a total of 148 commercial motor vehicles. Troopers issued one CVSA decal to a commercial motor vehicle that passed a Level I inspection where no critical violations were found according to the North American Standard Out-of- Service Criteria. Troopers also discovered 269 violations, of which 34 were so severe that they created a condition where the vehicle or its driver was placed out of service. In total, 14 vehicles were placed out of service for critical safety violations, while 12 drivers were placed out of service for violations including possessing drugs, not possessing a valid medical certificate, not maintaining records of driving hours, and not holding the proper class of driver's license. Troopers issued 18 citations and as a result of commercial motor vehicle inspections.

In Merrimack, Trooper First Class Andrew Vittoria of the New Hampshire State Police – Troop G stopped a 2014 Freightliner towing a 2013 trailer and placed it out of service after observing snow on the hood that blocked the driver's view. Additionally, TFC Vittoria learned that the driver had failed to record his duty hours.

In Rumney, Trooper First Class Scott Atherton stopped a 2015 Western Star towing a 2013 trailer that was operating over the maximum allowed weight. The tractor trailer had been permitted to increase the maximum weight it could carry from 80,000 pounds to 99,000 pounds, however when Troopers placed the vehicle on portable scales they found that it weighed 113,700 pounds.

Members of Troop G also assisted the Whitefield Police Department with a crash involving a commercial motor vehicle in the town of Whitefield. Officers were able to determine that a 2020 Mack dump truck failed to negotiate a turn and rolled over.

In Sanbornton, Trooper First Class Joseph Waldvogel of the New Hampshire State Police – Troop G, stopped a 2017 GMC towing a 2003 trailer. TFC Waldvogel learned during the inspection that the vehicle was carrying placardable amounts of hazardous materials, however no shipping papers were present, emergency response information was missing, proof of a periodic inspection for the trailer was not present, and the driver did not possess the proper class of license to operate the vehicle.

In Brentwood, Trooper First Class Daniel Needham of the New Hampshire State Police – Troop G, stopped a 2003 Chevrolet towing a 2015 trailer that had failed to clean snow off of the vehicle. During the course of the inspection, TFC Needham located drugs in the truck. In addition, TFC Needham found that the driver did not possess a medical card, failed to wear his seatbelt as required, failed to have proof of a periodic inspection for the trailer, failed to conduct a pre-trip inspection, and had not obtained USDOT registrations.

The New Hampshire State Police are committed to ensuring safe travel throughout the State and will continue our efforts to reduce collisions during the holiday season.