Bill targets trucks lines at New Jersey ports

Bill targets trucks lines at New Jersey ports New Jersey legislators have proposed a bill that would fine marine terminals if truck drivers are forced to wait in line for more than 30 minutes.
   The bill, S2217, introduced by Bernard Kenny, D-Hoboken, prohibits “heavy-duty diesel trucks from idling or queuing for more than 30 minutes while waiting to enter any marine terminal.”
   The bill also prohibits “any owner or operator of a marine terminal from taking any action intended to avoid complying with, or to circumvent, the requirements of the act including, but not limited to:
   * Diverting an idling truck to area highways or alternate staging areas.
   * Requiring a truck to idle or queue inside the gate of a marine terminal.
   * Requiring or directing a truck driver to turn on and off an engine while queuing.
   The bill provides that the operator of a marine terminal is subject to a fine of $250 for each heavy-duty diesel truck found in violation of the idling or queuing prohibition, and is subject to a fine of $750 for each truck involved in a violation of avoiding compliance with or circumventing the act.
   However, the bill exempts terminals if they provide two continuous hours of uninterrupted, fully staffed receiving and delivery gates two hours prior to and after peak commuter hours each day, or fully staffed receiving and delivery gates for 70 or more hours, over five days per week.
   An identical bill (A2646) has been introduced in the New Jersey Assembly by John Wisniewski and Vincent Prieto.