The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is launching a statewide effort to increase enforcement of Arkansas’s Cover Your Load law in an effort to reduce roadside litter, improve highway safety, and save taxpayer dollars.
State officials say litter remains a costly problem across Arkansas. ARDOT currently spends nearly $10 million every year removing trash from more than 16,000 miles of state highways.
Transportation officials believe a significant amount of roadside debris comes from unsecured loads falling from trucks and trailers. Besides creating litter, those items can become dangerous obstacles for motorists, law enforcement officers, and highway maintenance crews.
After spending the past year focusing on public education, ARDOT says it is now partnering with the Arkansas Highway Police to increase enforcement throughout the state…