The Decatur Board of Aldermen is working to develop clear guidelines for 18-wheeler traffic and limit road damage with a new Heavy Hauler ordinance adopted at last Tuesday at the board’s June meeting.
Under the new ordinance, trucking companies could be ticketed and fined for causing unnecessary damage to public roadways within the city limits.
“It’s a misdemeanor traffic violation,” said Town Attorney Mitch Thomas. “Initial fine is $250, subsequent fine is $500. If you get pulled over and you refuse to comply and provide documentation of your load, it’s $1,000.”
The board began considering an ordinance to limit 18-wheeler traffic last month, when a truck hauling dirt to a residence on Country Club Drive caused significant damage to the road. After reviewing the situation, the board realized it had not set any punitive guidelines that could be used to keep large vehicles from tearing up the roads.
Thomas told the board the ordinance was very similar to one adopted by the City of Newton, which the board reviewed at its May meeting.
“It’s substantially, the same as the one that we looked at last time,” he said. “But it’s been tailored to fit our town. The biggest point is designated truck routes.”
Under the new ordinance, Highway 15, Highway 503 and Broad Street and South 7th Avenue are designated truck routes for 18-wheelers. Trucks that deviate from those routes could be pulled over by law enforcement and issued a citation.
The ordinance was adopted by a unanimous vote; however, aldermen did note some 18-wheelers would need to deviate from the truck routes to make deliveries. The board agreed exceptions could be made on a case-by-case basis so as not to interrupt local business.
Legally, Thomas added, the ordinance could not apply to emergency vehicles, official vehicles, garbage vehicles or residents driving home.
“You can’t restrict that,” he said.
Aldermen Mark Buntyn said the ordinance was not intended to restrict trucks or punish drivers. Rather, he said, it was designed to give the board a possible course of action should they need it.
“It would be very difficult for us to enforce this, but what this ordinance does, it gives us something to fall back on when there is damage to the road,” he said. “We don’t want to stop NAPA from a delivery or a delivery going to the courthouse or someone building new construction and having bricks hauled. But, in the case it does damage our road, it gives us a recourse to fall back on.”
