Trucker’s murder prompts US truck parking Bill

SCHOHARIE, N.Y. — A bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would provide funds to increase security and improve conditions for truck parking across the U.S.

The bill — dubbed "Jason’s Law" in honor of trucker Jason Rivenburg, who was shot to death during a robbery attempt while resting at an abandoned gas station in South Carolina — was introduced by U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.).

Rivenburg was cleaning the dashboard in the cab of a tractor-trailer, when he was shot twice in the head by 22-year-old Willie Pelzer. The murderer left with $7. 

The truck driver had just gone back to long-haul driving after being laid off in the construction sector. He left behind a pregnant wife who was scheduled to give birth to twins this past month.

"If we are going to require truck drivers to get a needed amount of rest in the course of their workday to protect themselves and other motorists, than it makes sense that we partner with local governments and private companies to provide enough safe, secure areas to park," said Rep. Tonko.

The law would create a six-year pilot program that would make $120 million available in from of grants for local governments and private companies to address the shortage of parking for commercial vehicles on the National Highway System.

Initiatives include:

Construction of safety rest areas that include parting for commercial motor vehicles and new parking facilities next to commercial truck stops and travel plazas.

Opening existing facilities for truck parking, including inspection and weigh stations and park-and-ride facilities as well as promoting the availability of publicly or privately-held parking on the National Highway System.

Improvements to public truck parking facilities currently closed on a seasonal basis and improving the geometric design of interchanges on highways to improve access to parking facilities

— with files from Truckinginfo.com