After years of wrecks on restricted roads, one Pennsylvania lawmaker says it’s time to crack down on rule-breaking truck drivers.
Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, introduced a bill he says would help the entire state, but it focuses on one major trouble spot.
The problem area is a one-mile stretch in Luzerne County between Interstates 81 and 476. The section runs along Laurel Run Road (state Route 2007) to Pine Run Road (SR 2034) in the Wilkes-Barre area.
Pashinski says the road is so dangerous it’s nicknamed “Giants Despair.” The section is known for its sharp twists and turns.
He said that over three years, 43 crashes happened there. Trucks have overturned, blocked the road for hours, and sometimes lost their brakes.
“Innocent lives have been lost because commercially licensed drivers chose to ignore clearly posted restrictions prohibiting vehicles over 10 ½ tons,” Pashinski wrote in a bill memo.
In 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation added safety improvements to the area. Improvements include warning signs, flashing lights, and chimes to alert drivers when their vehicles are too heavy or tall.
Pashinski says crashes still happen despite PennDOT’s efforts to improve safety in the area.
House Bill 2073
His new bill would raise penalties for truck drivers who ignore posted traffic restrictions anywhere in the state.
First-time offenders would face a $1,000 fine. Repeat offenders would face a $5,000 fine.
A third violation could lead to a lifetime ban from driving a truck.
Employers of CDL holders who break the rules could also be fined up to $5,000. CDL holders who are also their own employer would receive only one fine.
“This is not just a Luzerne County issue. Every community across the Commonwealth has a roadway, bridge, or underpass where some drivers decide the restrictions do not apply to them,” Pashinski said. “It’s time for serious consequences for these serious actions.”
HB2073 is in the House Transportation Committee. It has not been scheduled for consideration.
Noise pollution
A different bill in the House Transportation Committee focuses on what one lawmaker calls a growing health concern.
Rep. Lisa Borowski, D-Newtown, is sponsoring HB2069. The bill would let local governments install noise camera systems at certain intersections.
PennDOT could allow cities, counties, and townships to set up these systems to monitor vehicle noise levels, which are already regulated under state law.
Truck drivers and others who exceed noise limits would face a $100 fine. LL
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