Q: I normally drive from I-75, where it intersects with I-285 on the Northside, to where it meets the south part of I-285. During this trip, I sometimes travel alongside 18-wheel trucks that are obviously using I-75 the entire way and not using I-285, per the law. Am I missing something here?
—Bob Lang, Marietta
A: Georgia Code 40-6-51, which prohibits commercial vehicles, including buses and motorcoaches inside the Perimeter, is actively enforced, Capt. Mark Wesley of the Motor Carrier Compliance Division of the Georgia Department of Public Safety told Q&A on the News.
Wesley is the Region 3 commander, which includes metro Atlanta.
“One of the things we look at is a truck’s paperwork, to see where he’s coming from and where he’s going,” Wesley said.
Commercial vehicles aren’t allowed to travel on interstates 75, 85 and 20, and Ga. 400 inside I-285 except for these reasons:
- To pick up or make deliveries "to or from a shipper physically located inside I-285."
- To travel to or from a carrier's terminal located inside I-285.
- To travel to or from a repair facility located inside I-285.
- To travel to or from a driver's residence located inside I-285.
Wesley said he’s seen a decrease in the number of trucks inside I-285 since the winter storms of January 2014. Commercial vehicles were seen in photos of abandoned vehicles or in traffic on downtown interstates.
“I think that brought it to everyone’s attention,” he said. “We have some drivers from out of state who are ignorant of the fact that the law exists. Or you have some who blindly follow their GPS and it takes them through downtown.”
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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