WSP says secure your load
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – National Secure Your Load Day is today (Tuesday) and the Washington State Patrol is reminding the public about the importance of properly securing cargo.
Every year in Washington, debris from unsecured loads causes more than 300 traffic crashes and 30 injuries. In 2022, that toll included five deaths attributed to debris in the roadway.
“Our troopers and commercial enforcement officers contact more than 1,000 motorists each year for failing to properly secure their vehicle’s loads,” WSP Chief John Batiste said. “Collisions caused by unsecured loads are entirely preventable. Ensuring all items are properly secured enables us all to have safe roadways.”
As a part of the annual campaign, state troopers are conducting emphasis patrols across Washington for three consecutive weekends between June 9 and June 25. Emphasis patrols during that time will have troopers looking for unsecured loads, stopping those drivers and handing out tickets for loads that are not properly secured in accordance with state law. Fines for littering and unsecured loads range from $50 to $5,000. If an item falls out and causes bodily harm or property damage, the driver could also face jail time.
