Inspectors pulled five trucks and two drivers off the road in New Britain Township on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
The Central Bucks Motor Carrier Safety Enforcement Team found defective brakes, unsecured cargo and a driver carrying marijuana during a commercial vehicle safety detail along three busy corridors: the U.S. 202 Business route, County Line Road (state route 2038) and Bristol Road (state route 2025).
New Britain Township Police hosted the enforcement team for the detail, according to a department post on CrimeWatch. Patch also covered the results.
Of 11 commercial vehicles stopped and inspected, seven had violations. That means roughly two out of every three trucks checked were operating with problems. Inspectors logged 28 total violations, and 10 were serious enough to trigger out-of-service orders. A truck or driver placed out of service cannot continue operating until the problem is corrected.
Five of those orders went to trucks with brake failures or cargo that was not properly secured. The most alarming find: one of the five was hauling hazardous materials with defective brakes, the police department reported. The type of hazardous cargo and the carrier's name were not disclosed.
Two drivers also received out-of-service orders. One held a disqualified or expired Class A commercial driver's license (CDL), meaning that driver was not legally authorized to operate the vehicle. The second was found in possession of marijuana while operating a commercial truck.
Beyond the out-of-service orders, inspectors issued nine traffic citations and 19 traffic warnings during the detail.
All three corridors carry heavy commercial traffic through residential and commercial areas of New Britain Township. County Line Road and Bristol Road intersect the U.S. 202 Business route near Chalfont, where trucks share lanes with commuters and school traffic.
Residents who want to report unsafe commercial vehicle activity can contact the New Britain Township Police Department at 207 Park Ave. in Chalfont or call 215-822-1910.
