Expert: Jason Grabill - 3/13/2008

Question
Hello,  I hope you can point me in the right direction.  I live on a very busy street in Baltimore County Maryland that is a cut through between two somewhat major thoroughfares.  There is commercial traffic (semi's) allowed on only one half of the street, by that I mean from the first major street to a point only halfway down mine, and NO Semi's allowed from the 2nd major street down my end of the road (I hope that is clear.)  This is clearly marked with numerous signs, no less then 10.  It is like a nightmare trying to take my children across that street because their bus stop is on the other side.  The trucking companies have been contacted to no avail, also the police (they told me they didn't know that trucks were not allowed after my 50th phone call).  I want to know if the companies could be charged with something like Public endangerment for not curtailing the activities of their drivers, or what exactly are the police responsible for doing, I am at my wits end and don't want to see a child or someone else dead before the speeding and trucks are stopped, thanks in advance.  

Answer
Jennifer:

 It sounds as if you have done many of the things I would have suggested without much success.   I'll try and give you a few more angles to try here, though.

 1:  You *may* try and contact the Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit.  There should be a detachment of them at the local MSP Barrack, which I believe for Baltimore County is Pikesville.  They might be able to help with this.  I say *might* because they may also tell you to contact BCPD.  Still, it's worth a try.

 2:  At this point, if you don't get help from MSP, try contacting your local elected officials.  Start with the County Council, and move up to your State Senator (not the US Senator, but your local rep in Annapolis).  From there, go to your US Congressman.  You may get some action by contacting these folks.  It's best to go in person to their respective offices and talk directly to their staff (or them if they are there), as that will show them you are serious.   They may be able to motivate the trucking companies and/or the police to work on the issue.  

 3: Another option is contacting one of the local TV stations that does those 'gotcha' type shows.  Channels 11 and 13 are good for this type of stuff.  Explain your problem in clear and concise terms, explain that you have not gotten much help from the various folks you've already contacted.  This might get you some results.  You might also try the Sun newspaper.    I give you this as a 'last resort' type option because it may, or may not, work.  

 4:  Try and get the school bus transportation office to move your kids bus stop.  This may be a workable solution, but if more kids would have to cross the street because of moving the bus stop to your side of the street, this likely won't happen.  Still it might be worth a try.

 5:  As far as some type of charges, likely not.  There is no such charge as 'public endangerment' or anything along those lines per se.  Basically they are committing traffic violations, and while they are big trucks doing it, they are still traffic violations.  Extra enforcement would be the answer in my opinion, but it seems as if you haven't gotten much in the way of results in that area.  Have you tried talking directly to the local district commander and explaining your situation?  Go to your local precinct and ask for a meeting with him/her.  Take some photos of the trucks ignoring the signage and committing violations, and ask him/her for some extra enforcement.  That might do the trick.  Again, go in person, phone calls can be punted from one person to the next, but an 'in person' compliant is usually taken more seriously, and you'll likely get a 'face to face' with someone who will try and work with you.


Hopefully, I've given you some more ideas to work with here.  Good luck.

Jason