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Resident urges gross-combined-weight definition; council notes enforcement limits without scales
Summary
Bernard Garcia suggested using 'gross combined weight' and revising the 6-ton threshold; council replied police lack scales and the ordinance currently uses a 6-ton (12,000-pound) limit for practical enforcement.
During the public-comment period on Ordinance 2026-64, resident Bernard Garcia recommended defining truck restrictions by gross combined weight (truck + trailer + cargo + fluids + passengers) to avoid ambiguity and asked the council to revisit the current 6-ton figure.
"My suggestion would be to change to gross combined weight," Garcia said, adding that commercial rating numbers are higher than 6 tons and suggesting the ordinance could include higher penalties for vehicles over commercial weight. Council response noted a practical enforcement limitation: police do not carry portable weight scales, so the ordinance has long used a 6-ton (12,000-pound) threshold as a straightforward enforcement standard. Council members said they would consider the technical suggestion while also acknowledging constraints on enforcement capacity.
The exchange clarified that the current ordinance threshold is 6 tons (12,000 pounds) and that enforcement without scales relies on vehicle class and officer judgment; the committee then referred the ordinance to full council.
