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Council and residents press police on overloaded trucks and brake failures; mayor to contact state delegate
Summary
Residents and council members raised safety concerns about overloaded commercial trucks and mechanical failures; police said certified inspectors can cite and take unsafe trucks out of service and Mayor Kabir said she will contact state delegate Mary Lehman about possible legislation on vehicle inspections.
Residents and council members used the public safety meeting to press police and city leaders about commercial vehicle safety and whether state-level inspection requirements should be pursued.
Participant Mary Hartnett described past fatalities and recent contract officer reports that show frequent stops of overloaded or mechanically deficient trucks. "What can they do about these trucks?" she asked, expressing concern that some commercial vehicles are "death traps on the road." The police presenter said certified truck inspectors can stop commercial vehicles, issue Maryland state citations for violations (including reduced brake effectiveness and overweight), and take vehicles "out of service" until violations are corrected.
When Hartnett asked whether annual or biennial inspections could be advanced in Annapolis, Mayor Kabir said she would reach out to state delegate Mary Lehman to discuss possible legislation. "I'm going to reach out to her to see ... if we can have some legislation in the upcoming legislative session," the mayor said.
Police and council members described truck inspection and enforcement as primarily a state-regulated function, with the Maryland State Police and county-certified inspectors playing key roles. The meeting included no vote or formal policy change; the outcome was a commitment by the mayor to contact the city’s state delegation and to report back to the council.
