Pasadena Police Commercial Pasadena Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement UnitVehicle 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 resources, and ensure the safety of the traveling public by preventing the traveling public by preventing crashes through the training and crashes through the training and enforcement of local, state, and enforcement of local, state, and federal regulations.federal regulations.

IntroductionIntroduction Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit

• Currently consists of 6 full time officers, one Sergeant, and one Currently consists of 6 full time officers, one Sergeant, and one Lieutenant. Lieutenant.

• All officers are certified D.O.T. Inspectors with specialized All officers are certified D.O.T. Inspectors with specialized training in Cargo Tanks and Hazardous Materials. training in Cargo Tanks and Hazardous Materials.

• The Unit primarily responds to collisions and other calls for The Unit primarily responds to collisions and other calls for service involving Commercial Motor Vehicle’s.service involving Commercial Motor Vehicle’s.

• Traffic “tube” surveys monitoring commercial vehicle Traffic “tube” surveys monitoring commercial vehicle traffic were done on weekdays from 8 A.M. to 11 traffic were done on weekdays from 8 A.M. to 11 A.M. and 1 P.M. to 3 P.M. These surveys indicated A.M. and 1 P.M. to 3 P.M. These surveys indicated that there are approximately 60 trucks per minute that there are approximately 60 trucks per minute traveling on S.H. 225 during these peak traffic traveling on S.H. 225 during these peak traffic periods. periods.

Facts about CMV traffic in Facts about CMV traffic in PasadenaPasadena::

Enforcement Enforcement InformationInformation

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

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

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

• Texas Weight Laws are also strictly enforced which results Texas Weight Laws are also strictly enforced which results in the protection of the citizens and the roadways of our in the protection of the citizens and the roadways of our city.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, we With increased CMV traffic in Pasadena, we are witnessing an increased number of are witnessing an increased number of weight violations.weight violations.

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

Goals and Problems Goals and Problems ContinuedContinued

• With the Port of Houston’s (Pasadena) Bayport With the Port of Houston’s (Pasadena) Bayport Terminal now underway, we will see an increased Terminal now underway, we will see an increased number of commercial vehicles moving through number of commercial vehicles moving through our city.our city.

• The Port of Houston estimates that approximately The Port of Houston estimates that approximately 7,000 trucks per day will travel in and out of the 7,000 trucks per day will travel in and out of the new Bayport Terminal during their hours of new Bayport Terminal during their hours of operation. 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 30 to June 30thth of this year there of this year there have been a total of 71 accidents involving have been a total of 71 accidents involving commercial vehicles.commercial vehicles.

• Of the 71 accidents, only 5 or 7% occurred on Of the 71 accidents, only 5 or 7% occurred on the weekend. Broken down per month the the weekend. Broken down per month the average number for CMV accidents occurring average number for CMV accidents occurring over the weekends is .833%. This is less than over the weekends is .833%. This is less than one CMV accident occurring each month over one CMV accident occurring each month over the weekends. the weekends.

Action PlanAction Plan

• Members of the unit will continue Members of the unit will continue to enforce the Federal Motor to enforce the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, the Carrier Safety Regulations, the Hazardous Materials Regulations, Hazardous Materials Regulations, State Laws, and applicable City State Laws, and applicable City Ordinances.Ordinances.

• Members of the division will also Members of the division will also continue to answer crash calls continue to answer crash calls and major incidents involving and major incidents involving commercial motor vehiclescommercial motor vehicles..