Police Issue More Than $3,200

In Trucking Fines

Newtown police and state police ran a joint project August 4 to enforce commercial truck regulations at a checkpoint set up on Wasserman Way, near the Exit 11 commuter parking lot of Interstate 84.

Sergeant Christopher Vanghele said three Newtown police plus members of the state police’s truck squad issued 13 tickets in the enforcement project, representing $3,249 in motor vehicle fines.

Four of the trucks that police ticketed were taken off the road due to serious violations. Those violations must be corrected before the trucks can be put back in service.

The August 4 enforcement project is the eighth time during the past two years that town and state police have held truck checkpoints in Newtown, the sergeant said. In those eight checkpoints, almost $94,000 worth of fines were issued, he said.

The town police overtime pay required for this week’s truck enforcement project was funded by a $4,000 state grant. Other money from that grant will be used for radar-based speed patrols and crosswalk enforcement.