Year-old trash inspection results called inconclusive by state and federal officials. But Rep. Jo Ann Davis says they show extent of problem

By ROB DAVIS

Date published: 5/1/2004

A year after the Virginia State Police inspected trash trucks at the behest of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis, the results are in.

Of the 38 trash-haulers inspected during three days in May 2003, 16 were declared out-of-service--nearly 42 percent. That means the trucks had brake, transmission or exhaust problems so severe that they couldn't be driven until they were repaired.

Sixteen non-trash trucks were inspected; four were declared out-of-service.

Locally, trucks were inspected crossing from Maryland into King George County at the Dahlgren weight station. Other inspections were done in King William and King and Queen counties.

First District Rep. Jo Ann Davis' office touted the inspection results in a news release this week, saying they show the extent of Virginia's out-of-state trash problem.

But state police and U.S. Transportation Department officials call the numbers inconclusive.

"This was a pretty limited sample," said state police Lt. Herb Bridges. "I don't like to attach a tremendous amount to it."

Bridges called the inspections "a political thing."

State police no longer randomly inspect trucks, he said, but they look for those appearing suspect. The higher the out-of-service rate, the more wisely troopers have chosen trucks, Bridges said. The ideal out-of-service rate would be 100 percent, he said.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration coordinated the inspection effort. Nationally, the inspection-failure rate in 2002 for garbage-hauling vehicles was 25.5 percent, it advised Davis.

Craig Feister, a division administrator with the agency, said such a small local sample isn't representative of the larger picture.

"When you always focus your inspections on just one particular segment, your numbers tend to be a little higher," Feister said.

But Chris Connelly, a spokesman for Davis, said state police found a problem--regardless of whether they were looking for one.

"If one truck is pulled over, it's one truck too many," he said.

The congresswoman, who is continuing to push legislation to give Virginia more control over trash imports, will use the figures to demonstrate problems with trash-haulers coming into the state, Connelly said. The state ranks No. 2 in the nation in importing trash.

"If Virginia is forced to take trash in," he said, "the least we can do is make sure these trucks are safe."

The inspections took place May 6, May 15 and May 20 last year and the results were filed by the end of May, Bridges said. So much time has passed, Bridges said, that the report has been purged.

"I can't believe it's a year and it's just coming out," Bridges said.

Neither could Connelly, who received results earlier this week. He attributed part of the delay to Congress' slow mail system. Inspections delay delivery by two to four weeks, he said.

But he also blamed the Motor Carrier Safety Administration and said Davis' office would follow up on it.

"Why it took [them] so long, I don't know," Connelly said. "They're a government agency."

To reach ROB DAVIS: 540/374-5418 rdavis@freelancestar.com

Date published: 5/1/2004