4/16/02-Gov. Bob Wise signed SB256 into law earlier this month, giving officers who enforce truck weight limits the authority to carry handguns as an increased safety measure.

2/12/02-A West Virginia bill introduced in January would give officers who enforce truck weight limits the authority to carry handguns as an increased safety measure. SB256, introduced by Sen. William Wooton (D-Beckley), is in the Senate judiciary committee. A similar bill (HB4311) introduced in the House by Rep. Virginia Mahan (D-Green Sulphur Springs) is in the House finance committee. To contact Sen. Wooton or Rep. Mahan, call (304) 357-7880 or (304) 340-3106, respectively.

3/21/01 - A bill that would have allowed city police officers in the Mountain State to enforce truck safety regulations has fallen by the wayside. SB420's sponsor, John Mitchell Jr. of Kanawha, rejected it because he said the intent of the bill had been changed.
An amendment had been added to the bill since its introduction that required all officers to complete an eight-week certification course before they could enforce truck safety regulations. According to published reports, Mitchell contended the added measure essentially made it more difficult for truck safety regulations to be enforced.

3/22/01 - A West Virginia bill that would have allowed city police officers to enforce truck safety regulations has died in the state Senate. The bill's sponsor, Sen. John Mitchell of Kanawha, persuaded lawmakers to defeat SB420 because its intent had been changed.
Mitchell originally intended for the bill to expand truck enforcement. Currently, state police and sheriff's departments have that authority, but not municipal officers.
Mitchell told lawmakers that a Senate Judiciary Committee amendment had completely changed the intent of the bill. The amendment, requested by the Public Service Commission, would have required all officers to complete the eight-week certification course for PSC inspectors before they could enforce truck safety regulations. "The intent was to expand enforcement," Mitchell told news reporters. "What has resulted is just the opposite. It has made it more difficult for state police, and sheriffs and police officers to enforce highway safety laws."