|
 |
Donald R. Huff,
Chairman
Eugene S. Fleming, Vice Chairman
Jack Demming, Member
Michael A. Roper, Managing Director
Robert M. Tholl, Office Manager |
|
|
|
Frost Laws
Every year around February or March we get some warm weather and the
frost starts coming out of the ground. As it comes out, it leaves soft
spots in the ground. You have probably noticed it when the bottom seems
to fall out of your driveway in the Spring. Well this same thing is
happening under pavement also. If a heavy vehicle drives over the
pavement when the ground is soft, the pavement will cave in and crack
up. It isn't long after this and we have a large pot hole beginning to
form.
The counties, cities and State Highway Department decided they needed to
protect against this accelerated deterioration of the roads and so
developed Spring Frost Laws. These Frost Laws go into effect at
different dates each year depending on the weather and are controlled
separately by each agency. The Frost Laws limit truckers to 35 MPH and
put a lower load limit on them. The Frost Laws have serious effects each
spring on the loggers, chip haulers, potato farmers, garbage haulers and
oil production truckers in Otsego County. All CAB permits are invalid
during Frost Laws. Frost Laws generally are on for better than a month
each Spring and signs are put up as well as notices put in the paper to
alert the public that they are going into effect. The Otsego County Road
Commission has three employees who are trained as weighmasters and they
carry scales and patrol the roads at all hours during the Frost Laws.
Violators are issued tickets and are fined by District Court by the
pound for each pound over the legal limits. Large overloads can be fined
hundreds of dollars and may also get their truck held up until it is
made legal. Fortunately, due to increased awareness and cooperation, the
amount of fines have steadily gone down in recent years. None of the
fine revenue is given to the Road Commission. A small percentage goes to
court costs and the rest goes to the County Library to purchase books.
Some roads are exempt from Frost Laws. These roads are called Special
Designated Roads. They have a deeper gravel base and a thicker layer of
asphalt to support heavier loads when the ground is soft. Some Special
Designated Roads in Otsego County are I-75, Old 27, M-32 and Dickerson
Road. Special permits are sometimes issued to move loads exceeding the
Frost Laws but a bond is required to pay for the road repairs if any
damage is done.
I have purposely eluded the maximum weights allowed during Frost Laws
because it is quite confusing. It is less than regular weight limits and
depends on tire size, number of axles and distance between axles. It is
a truckers business to know what these are and the rest of us don't have
to worry about it.
|
[