Cops blitz drilling water trucks

HARRISBURG — State police took 250 commercial vehicles out of service during a three-day blitz last week focusing on waste water trucks from shale gas drilling sites, Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski said June 23. State troopers worked with the state DEP, the PA Public Utility Commission and the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as part of Operation FracNET. In total, 1,137 trucks were inspected from June 14-16. Some 131 of the 250 vehicles placed out of service were trucks hauling waste water. Pawlowski said 669 traffic citations and 818 written warnings were issued as the result of waste water truck inspections. In addition, 23 of the 45 drivers placed out of service during the operation were waste water vehicle operators. At Troop R (Lackawanna, Pike, Susquehanna and Wayne counties), there were 142 inspections; 25 vehicles placed out of service; 141 citations.