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The division of Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement is no longer a semi-autonomous agency within the Justice Cabinet. As reported here first over the weekend, KVE will now be ruled by the State Police. But a number of KVE officers have told me they're not happy about losing their autonomy: Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement to become division of KSP FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 14, 2008) - Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement (KVE) will become a division of the Kentucky State Police under an executive order signed today by Gov. Steve Beshear, returning KVE to its core mission while allowing the two agencies to combine law enforcement resources and create cost-saving efficiencies. Under the new division, KVE personnel will maintain their identity as the primary agents of driver and vehicle compliance and safety. The reorganization will allow the new division to expand hours of operation at weigh stations, in some cases doubling or tripling the hours these crucial checkpoints are open, Beshear said. Longer hours will increase the inspection and records checks of hazardous cargo, expand the use of radiological and nuclear material and increase contact with operators and drivers. The move also enhances critical security measures. The reorganization is expected to save $750,000 to $1 million annually through efficiencies, by eliminating top-level positions which are or will soon be open through retirements; reducing fuel costs; eliminating overhead costs of duplicative operations and programs and by centralizing offices and facilities. 6 CommentsLeave a comment |
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98% of the safety inspections I do are on state routes and county roads. The fact is KVE officers will now be forced to work at the scales. KVE already has non sworn safety inspectors at the scale, but that’s not enough for the new governor.
Mark, ask the governor what he is going to tell the residence of counties that KVE officers are pulled out of. Is it more important to collect fines and fees and bring in higher revenue or take unsafe trucks off the highway? Save a few bucks and see how many unsafe trucks roam around on state routes- city streets and county roads. How many dump trucks run through the scales? Maybe the ones working in that area, but 70 to 80% of these trucks run local and come no where near a weigh station.
KVE officers should focus on CMV traffic, but having them sit in a weigh station so the state can make a few bucks is ridiculous- I admit KVE has self destructed since Greg Howard took over. Trucks were put on the backburner so Greg could get his picture in the paper and give his buddies jobs. KSP has a chance to rebuild KVE and allow the KVE officers to focus on CMV traffic and highway safety.
Don't waste a valuable resource of well trained professional officers who have served the commonwealth for over the last 20 years and put them in the scales so Troopers can feel better about themselves and be the BIG LAW on the highways.
I think it's a sad day for KVE, everything they've worked so hard for will be flushed down the tube. I recently retired from KVE because of an in the line of duty injury. I was a sergeant and loved my career there. I hate the fact that KVE will be mashed into the ground by the state police, just to get KVE's budget.
Face it guys/gals: The governor signed all of us into a life sentence at the Scale Jail.
To all those drivers with no log books, over on hours,overweight, DUI, tired, speeding, registration issues, etc. bypassing the scales and on bypass routes - We'll all be at the scales keeping them open if you need us!
So are we to assume that all KSP officers will immediately be trained and knowledgable in all the state and federal commercial laws and regulations that KVE officers already know and apply? Just wondering, because if KVE is going to be shackled down at the weigh stations, THEN THEY BEST BE.
'Cause otherwise, exactly who do you expect to write that overweight, broken down tractor trailer barrelling down YOUR back road where YOUR family drives with kids in tow? Exactly how many grey uniforms have YOU seen pulling over semis and putting truckers out of service on your great KY highways? Exactly... NONE. 'Cause they wouldn't have a clue as to how to do it. They are not required to and really shouldn't be responsible for that duty. We have sworn, trained, educated men and women fully capable of doing so already.
But as it stands now truckers and drug runners everywhere are filling out a "How to Bypass the Scales with Your Load of Drugs and Overweight Contraband on 4 Hours of Sleep" handbook.
What a sad day to take an autonomous agency doing an excellent job of reducing commercial fatalaties (way beyond the weigh stations) and RUIN them. But why should anyone be surprised? Welcome to how things work in Kentucky Government.
PATHETIC..........
Well to be honest, the Inspectors raise their right hands and are sworn to uphold the law. If they are not how do they not only inspect CMV's but write citations for both federal and state violations? I do beleive that the road officers need to get back to CMV inforcement and stay away from the bars. Each KVE Post has several counties they are responsable for, but I know there are a couple of post that focus on Metro Areas not the out lying counties. Yes hire more inspectors and give them hazardous duty retirement and away to protect themselves. Your Inspectors are dealing one on one with the same people the road officers do when dealing with CMV's. So think about it should they get some of the same benifits after all KSP Dispatches are on Hazardous Duty Retirement and they get the training pay like the officers and troopers???
Should have stopped the headline after the second word.