By Mike LaBella
mlabella@eagletribune.com
August 31, 2008 02:26 am PLAISTOW, N.H. — Prompted by resident complaints, a state enforcement team will check truck traffic on Main Street and Route 125. Police Chief Stephen Savage is working with state police to arrange a date for officers to come set up a temporary weigh station. The request was prompted by resident and selectmen complaints about an increasing number of trucks using Main Street and other residential roads as a cutoff from Route 125. "I received a complaint from the board about truck problems along Main Street," Savage said. "But it's not limited to Main Street because we're aware it's also on 125." State police randomly come to do routine weight checks twice annually, but Savage said the visit is overdue — they haven't come since spring 2007. Trucks are certified to carry weights of up to 80,000 pounds, according to the state Department of Safety. Trucks that exceed that weight on secondary roads, like Route 125, are fined 2 cents for each pound over 80,000, and a 20 percent court fee. The minimum charge is $100 and second offenses within a calendar year tack on an extra $250. The town has a 1989 court order that prevents trucks from traveling on Main Street from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. But interim Town Administrator Craig Kleman said the order is just for Atlas Motor Express on Kingston Road. He met with Atlas owner David Pevna last week to address some minor issues, but said Atlas trucks aren't the problem. When the state weight team does come, Savage said, it will set up somewhere and then send "hunt cars" out to pull over trucks and lead them to the portable scales. State police will monitor radio frequencies so if a trucker tells others to go through Atkinson or Newton, a hunt car can go to that location. "They aren't avoiding us," he said. Depending on the amount of traffic, the weight crew could stay as little as one day or as many as seven, according to Savage. It also could set up in Kingston or Newton and then return to Plaistow, he said. Savage acknowledged most trucks could be within the weight limit, so the exercise may not solve the problems. The best way to cut down on truck traffic and speeding on Main Street would be to add a three-way stop at its intersection with Elm Street and a four-way stop at Forrest Street, he said. The town is in discussions with the state Department of Transportation about traffic calming at those intersections. "I support the concept of a three-way stop at Elm," Savage said. "That will force the trucks onto 125, unless it's part of a truck's business to be over in that area."
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