A Long Beach Superior Court Judge on Wednesday suspended a trucking company and a driver found guilty last month of transporting an illegally overweight load on Long Beach streets from transporting goods from the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles for 10 days, according to a statement from the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office.
City Prosecutor Doug Haubert said in court Wednesday that banning Martinez Trucking and Logistics, Inc. from the ports was necessary to send a message to them and other trucking companies about the seriousness of violating weight rules.
“Most trucking companies take great steps to comply with safety laws, but those who show blatant disregard for the law need to be held accountable,” Haubert said in a statement. “Overweight trucks can destroy our highways and cost taxpayers millions of dollars in road repairs, but more importantly they put lives at risk.”
Martinez Trucking and Logistics, Inc. was originally supposed to be banned for 30 days, but the judge reduced the ban to 10 days when the defendants claimed such an order would put them out of business.
The 10-day suspension will begin on March 2, according to the City Prosecutor’s Office.
A court case filed on July 14, 2014 stated that Martinez was stopped by Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) officers on April 9, 2014 for driving a Martinez Trucking and Logistic, Inc. truck with a load that exceeded the maximum legal weight limit by over 10 tons, or 21,000 pounds.
Martinez’ truck was only legally allowed to carry a maximum of 67,500 pounds but was hauling a load that weight 88,600 pounds, LBPD officer Sean Parrilla told the court on January 26.
Martinez’ attorney unsuccessfully argued on January 26 that his client’s wide load permit also allowed him to carry a weight in excess of the legal limits, according to the City Prosecutor’s Office.
A Long Beach jury deliberated for 90 minutes on January 26 before finding Martinez and Martinez Trucking and Logistic, Inc. guilty of carrying an overweight load and misuse of a permit.
Driver Guadalupe Martinez and Martinez Trucking and Logistics, Inc. were also sentenced Wednesday to pay fines of more than $18,000.
“At sentencing for the overweight charge, Martinez and his company were issued a fine of $4,220.00. In addition, on the misuse of permit charge both driver and company were ordered to pay fines of $150 each,” according to the City Prosecutor’s Office. “When state-imposed penalties are added, the fines total $18,256.”
The defendants also have to serve three years of summary probation, and if Martinez violates his probation, the judge could order him to serve up to six months in county jail.