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In an effort to make Chicago area roads safer, Illinois State Police joined 15 other states to increase enforcement of safety regulations on commercial vehicles. According to NBC News, beginning August 1 and continuing through August 4, police presence was increased in areas along I-90/94 to target speeding violations, DUI, seatbelts, distracted driving, compliance laws, and illegal criminal and drug activity.
“Our collective efforts to ensure that this stretch of I-90/94 is safe throughout this four day saturation period will require the resources and dedication of our troopers, investigators and inspectors,” ISP Operations Colonel Michael Zerbonia said. “We are committed to supporting this multi-jurisdictional highway enforcement effort on behalf of Illinois to enhance road safety and public awareness.”
As part of the commercial vehicle crackdown, Illinois State Police officers conducted commercial motor vehicle safety inspections and checked for mechanical deficiencies, unlicensed drivers, logbook violations, overweight trucks and trailers, and CMV out-of-service violations.
According to NBC News, in the past year, police have conducted more than 88,000 commercial motor vehicle inspections at the state level.
The crackdown was intended to enforce compliance with safety regulations and deter safety violations, which are the cause of many trucking accidents. For instance, last month, the driver of a tractor-trailer involved in a multi-vehicle crash that killed four people and injured four others was charged with falsifying a log book and willful violation of a log book recording hours of service. Additionally, police said that the truck driver was exceeding the posted construction zone speed limits when he slammed into the car in front of him and caused a chain reaction of crashes. According to NBC News, records show that, since 1991, the truck driver had also been cited for driving without a license in his possession, disregarding a traffic control device, driving without a valid license for the type of vehicle he was operating, and six other commercial vehicle violations.
Liability for FMCSR Violations
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) control the conduct of truck drivers and trucking companies on subjects such driver hours of service limitations, driver alertness and impairment, drug and alcohol screening, and logbook recording and compliance. The failure to obey FMCSR can result in fines, penalties, and civil liability for any resulting trucking accidents. Additionally, in some cases, FMSCR violations may result in the assessment of punitive damages.
The Chicago truck accident attorneys at Cogan & Power, P.C. focus on representing the victims of commercial trucking accidents, including those caused by FMSCR violations, distracted truck driving, or truck driver fatigue. If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, contact our office at (312) 477-2500 for a free consultation with one of our Chicago truck accident attorneys. If you cannot come to our offices in downtown Chicago, we will come to you. And because we take cases on a contingency basis, you will not pay any fee unless we get you compensation.