Towamencin Police Continue to Ticket Truck Traffic Violators on Derstine Road, May Begin Fining Truck Company Owners

Tony Di Domizio•

Stock image.

The scheduled summer roadwork related to the 309 Connector between Route 309 in Hilltown Township and Interstate 476 in Towamencin Township could pose more truck traffic issues on Derstine Road near Allentown Road, even though Towamencin Supervisors banned truck traffic both directions on Derstine Road in October 2020.

According to The Reporter, Towamencin supervisors Wednesday night asked Towamencin Township Polic Chief Tim Troxel for an update on the truck traffic in the wake of feedback from residents regarding the issue. Residents first brought their concerns to supervisors last summer, as they were worried about children walking to school bus stops on Derstine Road, which has no sidewalks, per the article.

Supervisors were informed by the township traffic engineer recently that the 309 Connector roadwork along Wambold Road could affect Derstine Road traffic.

At present, police are conducting selective enforcement – 109 directed patrols since January 1, 2021, where an officer is doing nothing but truck enforcement, according to the article. Troxel told supervisors more signage on top of what has been put in place already will not help.

According to the article, Troxel and his team are looking to go beyond simply ticketing truck drivers – they want to start going after the trucking company owners or a company’s director of transportation. The hope is such a tactic would cause a domino effect and make the employers avoid rising costs of violations by telling their drivers to find another route, according to the article.

Supervisors lauded police on their efforts, even though some truck drivers continue to flirt with the violations.