The Sterling Heights Police Department announced today it will be stepping up the enforcement of seasonal weight restrictions for vehicles traversing Sterling Heights roads.
On March 14, Macomb County Department of Roads imposed seasonal weight restrictions for trucks, commonly known as Frost Laws, on all asphalt and gravel roads. Weight restrictions are normally declared starting in March and end sometime in May, however, these dates vary depending on weather. Normal loading will be allowed on concrete and concrete-based roads and designated Tandem Routes with the exception of the following:
- All concrete residential subdivision are reduced by 25%
- Gross axle loading on asphalt and gravel roads will be reduced by 35%
Sterling Heights Police Chief Dale Dwojakowski reports SHPD will have traffic officers and specially trained motor carrier officers enforcing these seasonal weight restrictions during the allotted timeframe. SHPD officers are equipped with portable scales for roadside weighing and have the option of using permanent scales located at our Department of Public Works.
Overweight trucks utilizing roads in Sterling Heights that have seasonal weight restrictions will be stopped and appropriate citations will be issued. Fines for overweight vehicles can easily reach several thousand dollars depending on the actual weight and type of truck.
Dwojakowski said he is in favor of the enforcement because, while roads are concrete and asphalt and may look indestructible, they can actually be quite fragile in late winter as frost comes out of the ground. As frost melts beneath a paved road, the roadbed turns wet and spongy because water is trapped between the pavement and the remaining ice layer beneath, he said. When trucks and heavy equipment travel over a layer of concrete or asphalt that isn’t well supported beneath, lots of permanent cracks can occur, Dwojakowski continued.
“It is the goal of the Sterling Heights Police Department to make sure our roads don’t experience any unneeded abuse that will further destroy our roads that we all eventually will have to pay for,” Dwojakowski said.
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Media with additional questions can contact Community Relations Director Bridget Kozlowski at (584) 446-2471 or at bkoz@sterling-heights.net.