Posted on 04/04/2002 5:02:06 AM PST by FITZ
Mexican trucks entering the United States through El Paso's international bridges fail state safety inspections at twice the rate of U.S. trucks, a Texas Department Public Safety official testified Wednesday.
"This is a safety issue," DPS Sgt. E.J. Nuñez said after a House Transportation Committee public hearing in El Paso.
"The most common problem is brakes that are out of adjustment," he explained. "We see it daily ... five to eight out of 10 brakes out of adjustment on trucks that carry 79,000 to 80,000 pounds of weight."
Inspectors also stopped trucks from Mexico for flat or bald tires, cracked axles, loose or missing suspension parts and other equipment malfunctions. Some drivers also lacked a commercial driver's license and insurance.
When possible, Nuñez said, owners can fix their trucks at the inspection lots. Trucks with more serious problems are towed back to Juárez.
Manuel Sotelo, president of the Juárez Truckers Association, was unavailable for comment.
DPS Maj. Coy Clanton told House committee members that actual figures for noncompliant trucks could be much higher because state inspectors get to check only a fraction of trucks. Nuñez estimated that DPS checks about 5 percent of all trucks crossing the border.
DPS officials said Laredo's rate of 59 percent unsafe trucks was the worst in the state, prompting committee Vice Chairwoman Judy Hawley to call the out-of-service rates "very sobering." The national average rate for noncompliant U.S. trucks is 22 to 23 percent, officials said.
State Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, a committee member, said: "From the testimony, (the state lawmakers) learned that there is no duplication of safety inspection services by federal and state inspectors. Only the state can enforce state safety regulations, and put unsafe trucks out of service."
DPS officials were checking trucks at the Zaragoza bridge and added a checkpoint near the Bridge of Americas last July. Because of limited staff and resources, DPS inspectors check trucks for only about three eight-hour days a week. Between 2,000 and 3,000 trucks cross El Paso's border daily, Nuñez said.
El Pasoans who testified included county Public Works Director Robert Rivera, Foreign Trade Association member Veronica Callaghan and Miles Group CEO Joe Wardy.
Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com
These are the trucks that are hauling 200 tons of dope to the US each year, half a million illegals and unknown numbers of terrorists and their supplies and money.
US Route 35 heads due north from Texas up to Chicago. Anywhere along that road is a good place for a dope depot or a terrorist camp. The border must be sealed!!
I'm sure that's what it will be called ---even if it's Hispanics raising the issue of safety.
In fact,
I've seen the entire rear axle come out from under one of these frontera BC wonders, on a US freeway, at rush hour.
What fun.
It looks like a free-for-all where these guys just climb in and go with no thought to the condition of the truck or the load.
Yet another case where mountains of regulation and permits are worthless.
Let's see. 59% of 2,000-3,000 is 1,180-1,770 dangerous trucks coming in EVERY DAY.
Who will pay for the destruction they cause?
Probably the Uninsured Motorists Fund (or whatever it's called in your state), which is financed by your insurance premiums, and which will have to increase to cover the injuries, deaths and property damage. Are you pissed off yet?
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