Committee advances bill reducing weigh‑station enforcement radius from 7 to 5 miles

Representative Dempsey presented House Bill 36-62, a measure to tighten the enforcement radius associated with fixed weigh stations on highways. "We need them to do their job at the scales," Dempsey said, reciting observations of trucks driving past scales. The bill was explained in committee as changing the operational allowance historically cited at seven miles to a five‑mile zone on highways.

Several members pressed on enforcement logistics. Representative Timmons and others asked whether sheriff’s offices have the equipment or capacity to weigh trucks that bypass scales on county roads and whether reducing the radius would simply shift overweight trucks onto rural routes, increasing damage to local roads. Representative Dempsey and the sponsor said highway patrol and local sheriffs could address evasion and that the five‑mile figure gives officers adequate time to catch violators.

The committee debated the operational questions but ultimately reported the bill as do pass with a 5‑2 vote. Representatives requesting clarifications asked follow-ups about directionality (whether the 5 miles applies in both directions) and received confirmation from the sponsor. No appropriation or equipment provision was included in the bill text as presented.