The Caddo Commission on Thursday approved laws that should protect parish roads from an increase in the number of big rigs hauling equipment to help drain the lucrative Haynesville Shale natural gas field.
Commissioners also will oversee hiring of staff to enforce the beefed-up ordinances.
Parish Sheriff Steve Prator will certify workers with gun toting and arrest powers. "But they'll work for the parish," he re-enforces.
An early version of the commission's proposal made Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit the sheriff's employees. The panel will split collected fines with the sheriff. Bossier's vehicle enforcement unit made $60,000 in fines during its first two months, Caddo commissioners say.
Workers likely will be part-time and may be former Caddo deputies, Commissioner Jim Smith said.
"That way they'll be familiar with the sheriff's office and the area," Smith said. Residents in Smith's southwest Shreveport and south Caddo district have seen much of the bulk of heavy trucks.
Among size requirements:
- Drivers of many vehicles wider than 8.5 feet and whose loads are more than a foot wider must obtain permits.
- The parish may charge permit fees, which vary by weight and distance traveled. Those range from $30 for vehicles whose gross weight is 80,000 pounds to $575 for those that weigh up to 254,000 pounds.
Escort vehicles for large loads must have two, 18-inch-square flags that are red or fluorescent orange and mounted at 45-degree angles.
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