Truckers Assessed $1 Million in Fines Over Weight-Restricted Bridge in R.I.

More than $1 million in fines have been assessed this year in Rhode Island against truckers for crossing the Pawtucket River Bridge on Interstate 95 that has a weight limit of 18 tons, an attorney for the state trucking association said.

The fines on the highway that is the main truck route along the East Coast now are as much as $5,000 per violation, following an increase that was approved in June by the state legislature.

Patrick Quinlan, staff-counsel to the Rhode Island Trucking Association, said the weight-restricted bridge can be avoided by using Interstate 295, which bypasses the city of Providence to the north and west.

The 50-year-old bridge over the Seekonk River in Pawtucket, R.I., now used by 162,000 vehicles a day, has been restricted since an inspection found significant erosion in steel girders and damage to concrete parapets in the breakdown lanes. Bridge inspections were stepped up nationwide after the Interstate 35 bridge collapse last year in Minnesota that killed 12 people.

Read the entire article from 2009 online here.

 

If you drive a vehicle that has been cited for violating the axle restriction on the Pawtucket River Bridge, you may be facing serious consequences. Your driving privileges may be restricted; your driving record will be affected; the cost of your insurance may increase; and you may face heavy fines.  Furthermore, if you drive a commercial vehicle, you and your employer may face even more severe sanctions.

If you have been cited by a Rhode Island police officer for violating the axle restriction on the Pawtucket River Bridge, you should contact an experienced Rhode Island criminal defense attorney immediately.  Attorney John R. Grasso is a former police officer and successful criminal defense attorney who will use his unique experiences to defend your citation and fines.

With Attorney John R. Grasso defending you, you can rest assured your criminal defense attorney will aggressively defend your rights and work tirelessly to reduce or dismiss your Pawtucket River Bridge citation.