A group of semi-truck drivers made some noise Tuesday outside the state Capitol.
Several 18-wheelers circled the building with horns blaring to protest legislation that would increase fines and fees for overweight vehicles. It’s likely to be part of a compromise plan to increase funding to fix Michigan’s roads.
State Senator Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, says too many lawmakers are blaming truckers for poor road conditions.
“What are some of the folks here doing? They’re pointing fingers at them as if they’re the problem – and, ‘Go get ‘em!’ I think they’re frustrated with that and I think they’ve had enough,” said Casperson.
“I think today was a demonstration of, ‘We’ve had enough of this and we’re going to fight back if that’s the way it’s going to be.’”
Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, says he doesn’t think much of the protest.
“OK, if you want to protest that you should be allowed to break the law, I suppose everybody would be driving around the Capitol. Fast, too. Really fast,” said Richardville.
Michigan has the highest truck weight limits in the country. The state Senate recently rejected a bill to cut those limits in half.
