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The sheriff's $1 million emergency vehicle needs $8,000 in repairs to make it legal to drive on California roads. (Courtesy photo)
Too heavy to legally drive on state roads
Cost to fix overweight $1 million sheriff's vehicle: $8,000, plus salaries
A year after a $1 million emergency vehicle arrived at the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, there is one slight problem: It's too heavy to legally drive on California roads.
To fix it, three deputies are planning to drive the large vehicle 2,430 miles each way to the Ohio manufacturer. The 11-day trip will cost $8,000 and needs approval today from the county's Board of Supervisors.
That cost doesn't include $11,000 total salaries for a sergeant and a deputy who have licenses to drive the rig, as well as a lieutenant who is supervising and can inspect the vehicle once it is repaired.
Deputies won't be paid overtime to fill the positions while the three are gone, according to a revised letter Sheriff Steve Moore sent the supervisors Thursday in a request for travel expenses.
The rig was built according to bid specifications, but the manufacturer suggested moving an air-conditioning unit to the back of the vehicle, Capt. Bruce Weist said. As a result, the rear axle has 22,060 pounds on it, and California has a 20,000-pound limit per axle.
The law is in place to prevent road damage, Weist said. Adding another axle will spread the weight and fall well under California limits. Ohio doesn't have such restrictions, he said. The vehicle itself is safe, Weist added.
If the travel expenses are approved today, the Sheriff's Office will seek a travel permit to exceed the weight limit, which Weist said shouldn't be a problem because trucking companies sometimes get them. The vehicle was paid for with funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and it arrived in June 2008. It can be used as a command center during emergencies, such as floods that generally come every seven to 10 years, Weist said.
A key feature of the vehicle is its ability to handle radio frequencies among different jurisdictions, Weist said.
The center's computer and radio system will allow the department to communicate with more than 500 law enforcement agencies in California, according to Moore's letter. Additionally, it can serve as a mobile dispatch center.
The manufacturer, Gerling and Associates, agreed to fix the vehicle at no cost under warranty, but only at their factory in Sunbury, Ohio. The Sheriff's Office has to get it to and from Ohio; the alternative was to find a closer company and thus void the warranty, Weist said.
Other transportation options included shipping the vehicle by train for $18,000, or by truck transportation that would cost $12,000, according to the letter Moore sent to the supervisors.
Instead, Moore proposed sending two deputies with Class A licenses, who will take turns driving the vehicle. However, the vehicle's cab can only legally carry a driver and one passenger, so the third person will drive a rental car — which Sheriff's staff determined would be cheaper than using a county car.
Sheriff's staff broke the cost down as follows:
Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.
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Gator wrote on Sep 29, 2009 8:09 AM:
piece of equipment that large with out tandem axels in the rear. Really!!
From the start the California vehicle code had to be consulted. Building a
unit of this size and weight are primary in design and you know it is going
to be so close you would think bingo we need Tandem axels. Secondly the
Truck could have been built in California by ENG in Walnut Creek or by
ALTEC In Dixon California. Both very capable. Now then if the truck is
over weight then special permits will be needed to Cross seven states to get
to Ohio. Some states are even more strict on weight than California…should
Be fun!! 8,000 to put a second Axel springs and drive shaft sounds like a
wish not reality. If they just move the AC unit then they are still going to be close. In winter it’s not impossible to pick up 4 or 500 lbs of mud etc so
your over weight again Wahooooooooo!!!! "
sven31 wrote on Sep 27, 2009 2:20 PM:
Good One!!!!
I'm sure that on the way back to or from Ohio, these three will be stopping in Branson and/or at every Cabelas, Pro Bass Shop, etc.
A nice little vacation disguised as work. "
Leonard wrote on Sep 26, 2009 6:13 PM:
Darn, I thought this was an article on Rush Limbaugh. "
sven31 wrote on Sep 25, 2009 5:54 PM:
No ones going to give SJSO a ticket (although we would be sure to get one in every county and town we might drive through).
If it's too heavy, try throwing some of the extra amenities out. These guys never buy anything cheap. Drive it where you want it, pop off the wheels, and call it a SO substation. "
galtguy wrote on Sep 25, 2009 10:14 AM:
If the guy who builds your house constructs a house that isn't up to code he had better have something other than, "well you told me to".
Like I stated the other day. The manufacturer will be repairing this at his expense right here in Stockton. You watch for the follow up story. Trust me, he will. "
Lodian wrote on Sep 24, 2009 8:34 PM:
So, who's responsible? And who should pay for the fix? "
dyan wrote on Sep 24, 2009 6:44 AM:
Galtguy wrote on Sep 24, 2009 6:06 AM:
A- It's not LPD. It's SJCSO. To include the entire county.
B- It's 24 miles to the gallon of gas for the rental car, not for diesel on the truck. The truck gets 10mpg of diesel.
C- They can NOT operate this vehicle on public roads. Period. End of story. It's not about getting tickets. It's about insurance and liability in the event of an incident involing the vehicle in question.
D- The enigine of the truck wouldn't need a rebuild after just 5K miles. They're going to Ohio, not the other side of the moon.
E- You can't just fly out mechanics with "the equipment they need". We're not adjusting a dial here folks. They'll be adding an entire axle.
Some of you should really read, then think, then post. "
Lodian wrote on Sep 23, 2009 7:21 PM:
wineman wrote on Sep 23, 2009 6:09 PM:
dyan wrote on Sep 22, 2009 8:30 PM:
tosh conn wrote on Sep 22, 2009 6:27 PM:
How would you use ONE MILLION DOLLARS OF OUR MONEY !!!!!! "
dogs4you wrote on Sep 22, 2009 5:55 PM:
sam wrote on Sep 22, 2009 4:57 PM:
The title of the article says it all.
To quote a dear friend... "Stupid Should Hurt". "
dogs4you wrote on Sep 22, 2009 4:32 PM:
The roving command center weighs just 2,000 lbs. over the limit. If it never left Lodi who cares, the streets are shot and nobody would notice the difference. By the time it gets back from being altered, the motor might need an overhaul. Even a better way, have the personal from the manufacture fly out and bring the necessary parts to remedy the situation, and that million dollar joke would never leave laughable, not really that smart Lodi. Times like this I tell people I live in Valley Springs, wish I still did. "
edumacation wrote on Sep 22, 2009 4:00 PM:
stucknlodi wrote on Sep 22, 2009 3:44 PM:
that just made my day. "
jbhiker wrote on Sep 22, 2009 3:12 PM:
Lodian wrote on Sep 22, 2009 2:46 PM:
Lodian wrote on Sep 22, 2009 2:43 PM:
veritas wrote on Sep 22, 2009 2:42 PM:
parrotheadsrule wrote on Sep 22, 2009 2:23 PM:
DeputyChief wrote on Sep 22, 2009 2:09 PM:
Sheriff Moore obviously failed to research the least expensive manner in which to transport this vehicle for it's needed modifications. "
Journey wrote on Sep 22, 2009 1:46 PM:
max stanfield wrote on Sep 22, 2009 1:20 PM:
Lodiken wrote on Sep 22, 2009 1:10 PM:
Journey wrote on Sep 22, 2009 11:44 AM:
dogs4you wrote on Sep 22, 2009 11:37 AM:
dogs4you wrote on Sep 22, 2009 11:22 AM:
lodi boy wrote on Sep 22, 2009 10:58 AM:
That way, it would have been light enough to take anywhere. "
Galtguy wrote on Sep 22, 2009 10:46 AM:
The real rub is the truck itself. Obviously not a lot of thought or planning went into it. At least not by qualified people. To even think of making a truck of that scope a two axle truck displays an incredible lack of knowledge of the transportation requirements of this or any other state. Simply put, forget the laws, the axle itself would be running at max all the time, what do you think that will do for longevity? Not to mention the lack of the ability of adding accessories later. On top of that, $1 MILLION? On what? Communication gear? Are they talking to the Space Station?
This is why you don't have big government, THEY CAN'T BE TRUSTED. For you unknowing folks out there I'm talking about DEMOCRATS! "
stucknlodi wrote on Sep 22, 2009 10:16 AM:
gray cloud wrote on Sep 22, 2009 10:11 AM:
2. If it is cheaper to rent a car rather than use a county car, shouldn't the county get rid of their cars and just rent cars ??
3. If is a waste to all taxpayers. "
Observer wrote on Sep 22, 2009 9:58 AM:
edumacation wrote on Sep 22, 2009 9:15 AM:
Journey wrote on Sep 22, 2009 8:39 AM:
edumacation wrote on Sep 22, 2009 8:37 AM:
This is a boondogle! What motel in the middle of nowhere is charging $115/night/person along I-80? How about the $127/night/person in Bent branch Ohio? Does this come with room service? LOL $1395 for meals? What are you eating? I think you should pack your own meals, practice for a riot or something. We know you plan to eat pizza and donuts and keep the cash difference. Those $18 meals sound tasty. Bring us the menu's so we can learn how you spent the money. That room service life is tough. A car that can legally carry only one driver and one passenger? What happens when a cruiser picks up gangbangers in the hood. Thats more than two people.
Isn't Moore the guy who had his car stolen out of his own DRIVEWAY? It sounds like the criminals are afraid of him. Thats why they come to Stockton.
$1417 for a rental car? Why don't you tow a car instead? "
Mama Llama wrote on Sep 22, 2009 8:22 AM:
stucknlodi wrote on Sep 22, 2009 8:05 AM:
t jefferson wrote on Sep 22, 2009 6:36 AM:
This is a complete joke...I really wish I could stop paying taxes. My money is completely wasted by the government everyday. "
Galtguy wrote on Sep 22, 2009 5:14 AM:
(On the other end of the line) That's fine, even though this is what we do for a living and should know better we'll go ahead and ship a vehicle that isn't legal where we're shipping it. Just build it. We'll figure it out later.
Both of you are idiots. Why not make the truck a three axle to begin with? This way you wouldn't have to worry about weight and could even ADD accessories. Or didn't that cross your mind?
This is just another case of someone spending someone else's money (namely ours) so there isn't a need to be accountable. So they arn't. Is it shows. We (the American Public) paid a MILLION $ for a vehicle that will hardly get used, EVER. San Joaquin County is NOT LA or NYC, it's not exactly a high priority target on the Taliban's list! "
Comments on this story are now closed.