As expected, a California bill requiring the shut down of hazmat trucks from remote locations has been reintroduced in the legislature.
The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman John Dutra of Freemont, faces tough opposition from the trucking industry which sees it as an added expense and a non-foolproof system that could strand trucks on the highway even though no danger is indicated.
The original bill, introduced during last year’s session, specified that a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) be used to disable trucks, but this language has been omitted from the new bill so other technologies will be available, said a staffer in Dutra’s office.
The California Highway Patrol already has been testing a number of remote shut-down devices.
Hearings on the bill are expected this spring.