Special grant supports enforcement details targeting unsafe driving by heavy trucks

Ferguson Township Police Sergeant Shawn Morrison and Officer Travis Park announced on Wednesday that since July 8, specially trained officers in the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) have been working extra hours and special details focused on aggressive driving infractions by commercial motor vehicles. Their work is supported by a Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Program grant aimed at inspecting heavy trucks. Both the FTPD and State College Borough Police were among the grant recipients. 

Morrison and Park were on top of Pine Grove Mountain to announce the grant and the efforts it supports. Speeding by heavy trucks as well as passenger vehicles traveling down the mountain to Rt. 26 is of special concern to police. As crash data has shown, speeding into Pine Grove Mills has proven to be a danger not only to the drivers but to residents.

Over the next week and a half, Officer Park, who is an MCSAP-trained officer, will continue to conduct enforcement details targeting aggressive and unsafe driving behaviors by commercial motor vehicles, including speeding, tailgating, running red lights, exceeding special truck speed limits, and other motor carrier violations.

Officer Park also has been participating in a joint detail as part of Wave 3 of the Aggressive Driving grant that includes enforcement of passenger vehicles. While monitoring both passenger vehicle speed limits and the special truck speed limits on Pine Grove Mills Mountain on July 24, he stopped and inspected two commercial trucks for aggressive driving, and also assisted in stopping a motorcycle clocked at 126 mph in the 45 mph zone.

Ferguson Township Police appreciate the community’s support of aggressive driving enforcement initiatives.