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Trucker protest hits Beltway but causes no major delays, authorities sayNo major traffic delays were reported on the Beltway during Fridays morning commute, police authorities said, despite a protest by about 30 tractor-trailers and pickup trucks against what organize describe as excessive government intrusion.
The trucks initially were traveling in the right lane of the Beltway, keeping pace with other traffic around 40 to 45 miles per hour, due to the wet road conditions, said Virginia State Police spokesman Corinne N. Geller.
At one point, four tractor-trailers started driving side-by-side, across all four northbound lanes of the inner loop. That caused traffic to slow to 15 miles per hour. State police troopers stopped the vehicles and warned them not to impede traffic, Geller said. The drivers were not issued tickets and allowed to proceed on their way.
There were no other major incidents reported as a result of the truck protests, she said. Minor delays were reported near the truckers at Route 236 in Annandale at the Braddock Road exit on the inner loop, but it was unclear from traffic cameras if the slowdown was due to the truckers.
The rest: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/va-state-police-trucker-protest-launched-on-i-95-north-vehicles-head-toward-beltway/2013/10/11/c8049b7e-3266-11e3-89ae-16e186e117d8_story.html
Comment from a friend: "The fact they are protesting the government on an INTERSTATE HIGHWAY makes me tingle with derp."
Berlum
(7,044 posts)FSogol
(45,529 posts)alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)Probably subsidized for some of these imbeciles.
Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)But you are correct, the organizers set up a PayPal account for donations to buy some of these jokers enough fuel in order to even get to the protest.
I am a Motor Carrier, I have my own operating authority as a common carrier for hire, and I hate to say it but some of these guys need to go out of business. If you can't even afford fuel, you are in big trouble.
That is not to say there are some legitimate grievances against the government by this industry, we are getting hammered on taxes at the local, state and federal level, we are getting regulated out the wazoo and are having an extremely difficult time trying to remain compliant only to have the regulations change yet again, and it actually is hurting many of the smaller truck companies, which comprises the bulk of the industry.
But I am still making a profit, though it is getting tougher to do so.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)Did the pick up trucks have rebel flags and [font size=3]" I <heart> Rush"[/font] bumper stickers?
....but where are the Porta-Potties?
"The fact they are protesting the government on an INTERSTATE HIGHWAY makes me tingle with derp."
and a DURec!
Roy Rolling
(6,938 posts)Mercy sakes alive we got us a convoy.
nolabear
(41,991 posts)Poor babies. Hardly worth riling up the hemorrhoids. Of course the ACA can help with that.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)LOL
HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)I am so stealing that!