Pasadena Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit

Pasadena Police Commercial Pasadena Police Commercial

Vehicle Enforcement UnitVehicle Enforcement Unit

Our Mission StatementOur Mission Statement

•• Our mission is to save lives, protect Our mission is to save lives, protect

resources, and ensure the safety of the resources, and ensure the safety of the

traveling public by preventing crashes traveling public by preventing crashes

through the training and enforcement of through the training and enforcement of

local, state, and federal regulations.local, state, and federal regulations.

IntroductionIntroduction

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit

•• Currently consists of 7 full time officers, one Sergeant, Currently consists of 7 full time officers, one Sergeant,

and one Lieutenant. and one Lieutenant.

•• All officers are certified D.O.T. Inspectors with All officers are certified D.O.T. Inspectors with

specialized training in Cargo Tanks and Hazardous specialized training in Cargo Tanks and Hazardous

Materials. Materials.

•• The Unit primarily responds to collisions and other The Unit primarily responds to collisions and other

calls for service involving Commercial Motor Vehiclecalls for service involving Commercial Motor Vehicle’’s.s.

•• Traffic Traffic ““tubetube”” surveys monitoring commercial vehicle traffic surveys monitoring commercial vehicle traffic

were done on weekdays from 8 A.M. to 11 A.M. and 1 P.M. were done on weekdays from 8 A.M. to 11 A.M. and 1 P.M.

to 3 P.M. These surveys indicated that there are to 3 P.M. These surveys indicated that there are

approximately 60 trucks per minute traveling on S.H. 225 approximately 60 trucks per minute traveling on S.H. 225

during these peak traffic periods. during these peak traffic periods.

Facts about CMV traffic in PasadenaFacts about CMV traffic in Pasadena::

Enforcement InformationEnforcement Information

•• Officers in the unit enforce the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Officers in the unit enforce the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations, Texas Regulations, Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations, Texas Law, and City Ordinances on all roadways of the City of Law, and City Ordinances on all roadways of the City of Pasadena.Pasadena.

•• Officers in the unit are also called upon by the patrol divisionOfficers in the unit are also called upon by the patrol divisionand other Police Departments in the area to assist with crash and other Police Departments in the area to assist with crash scenes and major incidents involving CMVscenes and major incidents involving CMV’’s.s.

•• Although their primary function is to target commercial motor Although their primary function is to target commercial motor vehicles, members of the unit also routinely answer other call vehicles, members of the unit also routinely answer other call for service.for service.

•• Texas Weight Laws are also strictly enforced which results in Texas Weight Laws are also strictly enforced which results in the protection of the citizens and the roadways of our city.the protection of the citizens and the roadways of our city.

Goals and ProblemsGoals and Problems

•• The departments goal is to reduce the The departments goal is to reduce the number of commercial vehicle crashes number of commercial vehicle crashes resulting in bodily injury and fatalities resulting in bodily injury and fatalities through enforcement efforts and fleet through enforcement efforts and fleet safety education and training.safety education and training.

•• With increased CMV traffic in Pasadena, With increased CMV traffic in Pasadena, we are witnessing an increased number we are witnessing an increased number of weight violations.of weight violations.

•• With the introduction of the With the introduction of the ““truck lanetruck lane””on State Hwy 225, we are also witnessing on State Hwy 225, we are also witnessing CMVCMV’’s traveling in the truck lane which s traveling in the truck lane which poses traffic issues. poses traffic issues.

Goals and Problems ContinuedGoals and Problems Continued

•• With the Port of HoustonWith the Port of Houston’’s (Pasadena) Bayport s (Pasadena) Bayport

Terminal now underway, we will see an Terminal now underway, we will see an

increased number of commercial vehicles increased number of commercial vehicles

moving through our city.moving through our city.

•• The Port of Houston estimates that The Port of Houston estimates that

approximately 7,000 trucks per day will travel in approximately 7,000 trucks per day will travel in

and out of the new Bayport Terminal during and out of the new Bayport Terminal during

their hours of operation. their hours of operation.

•• This will create an increased number of crashes This will create an increased number of crashes

and calls for service involving commercial motor and calls for service involving commercial motor

vehicles during peak hours.vehicles during peak hours.

Crashes Involving Commercial Crashes Involving Commercial VehiclesVehicles

•• From January 1From January 1stst to June 30to June 30thth of this year there have of this year there have

been a total of 71 accidents involving commercial been a total of 71 accidents involving commercial

vehicles.vehicles.

•• Of the 71 accidents, only 5 or 7% occurred on the Of the 71 accidents, only 5 or 7% occurred on the

weekend. Broken down per month the average weekend. Broken down per month the average

number for CMV accidents occurring over the number for CMV accidents occurring over the

weekends is .833%. This is less than one CMV weekends is .833%. This is less than one CMV

accident occurring each month over the weekends. accident occurring each month over the weekends.

Action PlanAction Plan

•• Members of the unit will continue to Members of the unit will continue to

enforce the Federal Motor Carrier enforce the Federal Motor Carrier

Safety Regulations, the Hazardous Safety Regulations, the Hazardous

Materials Regulations, State Laws, Materials Regulations, State Laws,

and applicable City Ordinances.and applicable City Ordinances.

•• Members of the division will also Members of the division will also

continue to answer crash calls and continue to answer crash calls and

major incidents involving major incidents involving

commercial motor vehiclescommercial motor vehicles..