More than half the trucks inspected on Roslyn Village roads by New York State Troopers and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Traffic Control Inspectors were found to be unsafe to be on the highways. The investigation was directed by Mayor Janet Galante and the Village Board of Trustees. Fifty-three additional summons were issued for serious violations discovered during the three inspection days. The inspections were held on Oct. 14, Nov. 14 and Dec. 18.

The investigation follows several jackknife tractor trailer accidents this past summer on Roslyn roads. Mayor Galante calls this "a growing misuse of the village roads by vehicles over four tons which illegally use and often speed over these roads in violation of Village Codes and Ordinances." She said, "It is important to make known that the Roslyn community will not tolerate the continued violation of state regulations and village codes by drivers of four-ton transient trucks which use our village streets as a short cut to avoid the designated truck route."

Lester D. Arstark, Roslyn community representative/police liaison, reported that during the inspections, a total of 24 of 43 trucks over four-tons received citations and were removed from the road. These vehicles ranged from tractor trailers to heavy duty freight carriers; some were owned by recognized business and large trucking companies.

In response to a request made by Mayor Galante and the Village Board of Trustees, Thomas F. Oelerich, regional traffic engineer for NYSDOT, directed NYSDOT Supervisor Bernard Radcliff of the Motor Carrier Safety Unit to set up Roslyn inspection stations and report results directly to Roslyn Village authorities. The unit works in a collaborative effort with New York State Police and Nassau County's 6th Precinct Commander, Inspector George T. Morrish in conducting traffic and safety inspections.

"State and county police often must listen to complaints, sometimes bordering on the abusive, from alleged violators but the numbers of citations issued underscore the importance of the inspection efforts on behalf of the well-being of the Roslyn community," said Arstark. "During a recent inspection, one angry independent trucker with two 18 wheel trailer trucks driving through Roslyn Village indignantly insisted that he personally inspected his trucks every day and delay was costing him money. However, the inspectors found potentially life threatening violations on each of the giant trailers - lug nuts loose on one truck and wheel rim cracks." Arstark noted that according to the State Police and NYSDOT inspectors such defects in both vehicles could easily have resulted in wheels flying off. He also noted that not too long ago a wheel that flew off a speeding truck resulted in the death of a motorist on the New Jersey Turnpike. The truck driver apparently never realized the wheel was lost.

The Traffic Control and Safety Inspection program is set up in key areas along village truck routes where the routes intersect county roads or the routes draw from village roads which are not designated as truck routes. New York State Troopers Tom Fuller and Jose Rosado are assigned the duty to flag and inspect trucks and when required, issue summonses. NYSDOT Inspectors Ron Saparito and Jose Crespo conducted most of the thorough bumber-to-bumper safety examinations of the vehicles.

In additional support of the program, the Nassau County Police Motor Safety Unit enforces truck safety measures on a periodic basis. Also, Police Lieutenant Douglas Dwyer has conducted a truck route signage survey to assure adequate markings of the roadways with proper signs. The signs are aimed at contributing to the further enhancement of safety for Roslyn residents and businesses.

The Roslyn inspection results were reported to village authorities. "As the Traffic Control and Inspection Program is a major focus of the Village Board of Trustees, the community has been kept informed of these enforcement efforts at public meetings and with local news articles," stated Mayor Galante. She said, "The community continues to express support and appreciation for this inspection program devoted to the safety and quality of life in Roslyn."