State inspectors and local police are conducting operations at the DOT’s new advertising vehicle inspection site between exits 51 and 53 on westbound LIE Highway. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
The first truck to stop at the state’s new advertisement vehicle inspection site in Dix Hills was the first to be breached.
Minutes after the government cut the ribbon on the new Long Island Expressway, a black truck was quoted with the words “Demolition Services” in neon letters on the back. The truck did not have a dual carriageway use permit, had unnecessary flashing lighting fixtures and won a “Level 2” inspection, which is far from the best, said the Suffolk police officer who was examining the truck.
He won at least 3 violations.
This is the start of several protective measures taken and enforced through the state Department of Transportation at the westbound site between exits 53 and 51, which opened Thursday morning.
“Trucking is literally a lifeline,” said Marie Therese Dominguez, the state’s DOT commissioner. “And with COVID, we saw how vital it was. We have to make sure that we have a framework for them to do their homework and for us as a traveling public. . . Make sure it’s a safe operating environment.
The location, across from the Long Island Welcome Center, joins two other inspection sites, on either side of LIE Exit 66. There are others on Long Island, including the Sunrise Highway and Route 878, the highway that runs west of Nassau. From the borough to Queens.
The new location is located in a former truck rest area. For just eight years it remained barricaded and some 21,000 trucks crossed it daily.
In 2023, the state inspected more than 119,000 advertising vehicles, 17% of which were in Nassau and Suffolk counties combined. Revenue figures from those inspections were not available.
This inspection rate is from previous years dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jonathan Nicastro, director of the DOT’s Office of Motor Carrier Enforcement.
The frequency of inspections will be adjusted as needed, but the site will operate at least five or six days a week with Suffolk County police personnel at other times of the day, Nicastro said. Inspections are carried out on a rotating basis between the sites and are carried out through the police authority that supervises this road.
“We’re here every day,” he said.
About seven drivers are taken off the road due to failed inspections and 23 cars are taken out of service following an inspection, Nicastro said.
The site is situated away from the road and protected by a side rail, allowing authorities to drive the vehicles safely, officials said.
Keep an eye on a variety of protection issues, adding correct permits, weight, tires, and cargo issues. If a truck fails to meet legal standards, drivers and corporations can get a fine and a fine. Violations of those regulations can damage infrastructure or the roadway. surfaces, state officials said.
Inspections can take 20 minutes or hours.
Officers also keep an eye on the driver’s well-being and can view their sleep logs.
The first truck to stop at the state’s new advertisement vehicle inspection site in Dix Hills was the first to be breached.
Minutes after the government cut the ribbon on the new Long Island Expressway, a black truck was quoted with the words “Demolition Services” in neon letters on the back. The truck did not have a dual carriageway use permit, had unnecessary flashing lighting fixtures and won a “Level 2” inspection, which is far from the best, said the Suffolk police officer who was examining the truck.
He won at least 3 violations.
This is the start of several protective measures taken and enforced through the state Department of Transportation at the westbound site between exits 53 and 51, which opened Thursday morning.
“Trucking is literally a lifeline,” said Marie Therese Dominguez, the state’s DOT commissioner. “And with COVID, we saw how vital it was. We have to make sure that we have a framework for them to do their homework and for us as a traveling public. . . Make sure it’s a safe operating environment.
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The location, across from the Long Island Welcome Center, joins two other inspection sites, on either side of LIE Exit 66. There are others on Long Island, including the Sunrise Highway and Route 878, the highway that runs west of Nassau. From the borough to Queens.
The new location is located in a former truck rest area. For just eight years it remained barricaded and some 21,000 trucks crossed it daily.
In 2023, the state inspected more than 119,000 advertising vehicles, 17% of which were in Nassau and Suffolk counties combined. Revenue figures from those inspections were not available.
This inspection rate is from previous years dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jonathan Nicastro, director of the DOT’s Office of Motor Carrier Enforcement.
The frequency of inspections will be adjusted as needed, but the site will operate at least five or six days a week with Suffolk County police personnel at other times of the day, Nicastro said. Inspections are carried out on a rotating basis between the sites and are carried out through the police authority that supervises this road.
“We’re here every day,” he said.
About seven drivers are taken off the road due to failed inspections and 23 cars are taken out of service following an inspection, Nicastro said.
The site is located away from the highway and protected by a side rail, allowing authorities to drive the vehicles safely, officials said.
Keep an eye on a variety of protection issues, adding correct permits, weight, tires, and cargo issues. If a truck fails to meet legal standards, drivers and corporations can get a fine and a fine. Violations of those regulations can damage infrastructure or the roadway. surfaces, state officials said.
Inspections can take 20 minutes or hours.
Officers also keep an eye on the driver’s well-being and can view their sleep logs.
Maureen Mullarkey is a breaking news reporter at Newsday. In the past she worked as a reporter for Patch, where she covered a number of Long Island stories on topics such as the bankruptcy of the Diocese of Rockville Center and the Babylon School District abuse scandals.