LEONARDTOWN, Md. - The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Department has recently been conducting a number of commercial motor vehicle inspections.
On 10-09-2006, SDFC Michael D. Peacher and DFC Harold Young conducted
inspections on Thompson's Corner Road (Route 236).
The two officers are specially trained, certified commercial motor vehicle inspectors for the Sheriff's
Office.
Fifteen vehicles were stopped during the exercise. Thirteen out of the fifteen vehicles were found to have major mechanical safety violations and should not have been operating on the roadway.
All vehicles that were found to be in violation were placed out of service and the operators were cited for the safety violations. One driver was placed out of service due to log book violations.
On 10-23-2006, while SDFC Michael D. Peacher was patrolling St. Andrews Church Road, he observed a Ford dump truck that was hauling gravel without the load covered. The truck was operated by Howard C. Jefferson Jr., age 52 of Lusby.
Peacher stopped the vehicle and completed a commercial motor vehicle safety inspection. During the inspection, the vehicle was found to be in need of repairs and unsafe to be operated on the roadway. The vehicle was placed out of service and removed from the roadway.
A computer check of the operator's license found that his privilege to drive in Maryland was suspended. Peacher placed Jefferson under arrest and transported him to the St Mary's County Detention Center. Jefferson was charged with driving while suspended, failure to cover load of loose material, and failure to possess valid medical examiners certificate.
The Sheriff's Office noted that they will continue to conduct grant-funded, commercial motor vehicle inspections throughout the year.