Officers stop big rigs, look for signs of danger

Mike Nesary, a Washington State Patrol commercial vehicle enforcement officer, looks for the source of a leaking airbrake valve at a vehicle inspection station east of Stevenson on Monday. (N. SCOTT TIMBLE/The Columbian)

RIDGEFIELD — Loose loads. Faulty brakes. Flat tires. Drowsy drivers.

These were among the problems the Washington State Patrol targeted during a sting operation Monday at truck scales throughout the state to scope out unsafe drivers and equipment. The goal was to stop unsafe vehicle conditions before they resulted in crashes.

“Ultimately, what we want to say is that we’re reducing collisions,” said Gary Park, a Washington State Patrol commercial vehicle enforcement officer. “Bottom line is that we want the safest highways in the nation.”

Officers kept every truck scale in the state open all day Monday. Weigh stations are usually open certain days based on the number of trucks that travel through.

The station on Interstate 5 near Ridgefield is open 24 hours a day, but others in Southwest Washington are open a few days each week.

On Monday, officers staked out stations on state Highway 14 near Stevenson, Interstate 5 north of Kelso, state Highway 503 near Woodland and state Highway 97 near Goldendale. Officers reported few violations but did find a few truck drivers with faulty brakes and underinflated tires. They also found a few weight violations, but nothing significant, Park said.

In past years, poor brakes were among the highest reported violations. Inspections locally and nationally have consistently found one-sixth to one-fifth of the heavy trucks traveling on highways have faulty brakes.