VA- mc noise
“In other committee matters, the issue of motorcycle muffler noise
standards was presented by the Environment Committee chair. After some
discussion it was determined that there was insufficient information on
the subject for the Public Safety Committee to take a position. “We need
to do more research on the subject before commenting. The intent of the
proposal, to control motorcycle muffler noise, is a good one; however,
we need to know about what is practical for an inspection standard, and
what is the most cost effective means of going about implementing the
proposed standard,” said Shawkey.
The next Public Safety Committee meetings are scheduled for Nov. 5 and
Dec. 3 at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center.”
www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=333687&paper=69&cat=104
Committee Hears Officers On Truck Safety
By Gerald A. Fill
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Fairfax County Police Department’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Unit
police officers – Senior Master Police Officer Mike Nichols and Officer
Steve Lescallett – briefed the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens’
Associations (MVCCA) Public Safety Committee Meeting, Oct. 1.
The officers’ specialized work includes ensuring that the commercial
trucks in Fairfax County are equipped with safe brakes, steering
apparatus, and tires. In addition, they are inspecting for overweight
trucks, monitor radiation and hazardous materials, and overall ensure
that the commercial motor vehicle carriers are operating safely and in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth. When necessary and called
upon, the police officers assigned to this unit – a total of four
officers – are authorized to perform patrol officer functions, including
participating in emergency response calls.
The team inspects or monitors motor vehicles entering and leaving
special facilities: Three tank farms, three rock quarries, five
landfills, four concrete plants, two recycling plants and UPS and FEDEX
Distribution Facilities where they inspect HazMat materials.
In 2008, they inspected 1,768 commerical motor vehicles. They took 830
vehicles out of service for safety reasons. The number one reason for
taking a vehicle out of service was faulty brakes.
Committee Chair Dallas Shawkey said, “The briefing was very helpful in
informing the committee about the value of maintaining this specialized
unit for motor vehicle and other safety inspections that they perform.
We will be monitoring what the proposed FY 2011 budget proposal
includes. Should there be a proposal to eliminate this function our
committee will be ready to defend the importance of keeping this
specialized function for the safety of citizens in the Route 1 corridor
and county-wide.”
In other committee matters, the issue of motorcycle muffler noise
standards was presented by the Environment Committee chair. After some
discussion it was determined that there was insufficient information on
the subject for the Public Safety Committee to take a position. “We need
to do more research on the subject before commenting. The intent of the
proposal, to control motorcycle muffler noise, is a good one; however,
we need to know about what is practical for an inspection standard, and
what is the most cost effective means of going about implementing the
proposed standard,” said Shawkey.
The next Public Safety Committee meetings are scheduled for Nov. 5 and
Dec. 3 at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center.
