New Program Is Saving Your Investment In City Roads

Yakima city roads are getting a major makeover this summer. The city is spending $15 million to refurbish more than 90 lane miles of roads. So how does the city protect that investment from large trucks that can damage roads? Yakima Police Chief Dominic Rizzi says they've created the Commercial Vehicle Education and Enforcement Program to make sure commercial drivers are following all the rules, including making sure the drivers are carrying the proper weight correctly. "If the weight isn't properly distributed it tears up the roads," Rizzi says. "You get too much weight on certain axles and it rips up the road."

Rizzi says commercial vehicle officers are also charged with making sure the drivers have all the proper equipment. Rizzi says he worked with fruit companies and drivers for months before starting the program. The goal is to make sure the drivers are safe and that they're following rules that won't damage city roads or injure other drivers.