Visiting truck driver’s overweight citation voided after board cites inadequate signage

Sergei Banikov, a commercial driver, told the Boonville Board of Works that navigating a 53-foot trailer into the city circle left him no practical way to avoid a posted 10‑ton restriction.

“I saw this restriction sign… but when I already see this sign, it was impossible to avoid this,” Banikov said, explaining that both of his truck navigators showed the route as commercial-vehicle legal. He said there was no place to turn around once he’d entered the roundabout and that reversing a fully loaded semi was not an option.

Board members discussed previous requests to the Indiana Department of Transportation for clearer advance signage. City staff said INDOT’s formal position was that existing signage met standards, but the city has continued to press for additional advance warnings. After hearing the driver and staff updates, a board member moved to dismiss the ordinance citation and a second followed; the board approved the motion by voice vote.

Chair (speaking for the board) told Banikov, “Then you are released from this ticket,” and asked staff to notify the police department so the citation would be voided administratively.

The vote was taken by voice; the board did not record an individual roll-call tally on the record. The board noted it will continue efforts with INDOT to seek more visible advance signage at the approach to the roundabout to reduce similar incidents.

The action taken was a dismissal of the specific ordinance citation; no change to city code or INDOT policy was adopted during the meeting.