Drivers who spill livestock excrement on highways in urban areas would face stiffer penalties under legislation advanced by senators Jan. 14.<\/p>\n
LB174, introduced by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, would amend the Nebraska Rules of the Road by increasing the minimum fine to $250 for any driver who spills manure or urine from a vehicle on any highway located within the corporate limits of a city of the metropolitan class. The violation is a Class IV misdemeanor and currently carries a minimum $100 fine.<\/p>\n
Manure spilling from livestock trailers leaving south Omaha\u2019s stockyards \u201chas plagued my part of the state for generations,\u201d Mello said. \u201cThese spills are not only a potential public health hazard, but also have a tendency to cause numerous traffic accidents.\u201d<\/p>\n
State statute regarding load spillage needs to be amended, Mello said, because most of the manure spills that occur near Omaha\u2019s meat-packing plants happen on state highways. Although Omaha also has city ordinances regarding load spillage, he said, the Nebraska State Patrol is the primary law enforcement agency currently issuing tickets.<\/p>\n
Additionally, Mello said, it is the state\u2019s responsibility to clean up the waste spills.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to be cognizant of the fiscal impact every time a spill is cleaned up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mello said the \u201cfairly modest\u201d fine increase is a result of collaboration among his office and the Nebraska Trucking Association, the Nebraska Cattlemen and the South Omaha Environmental Task Force. <\/p>\n
Hoskins Sen. Dave Bloomfield opposed LB174, saying the increased fine could damage Omaha\u2019s meat-packing industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo risk jobs in Omaha to raise a fine is not a good idea,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill Sen. Tyson Larson agreed, saying a livestock hauler may make only $250 on a load. <\/p>\n
If the packing industry was at risk, their representatives would have testified at the committee hearing, Mello said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny illusion this would impact the packing industry is a farce,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Following more than four hours of debate spanning Jan. 13 and 14, lawmakers advanced LB174 to select file on a 37-4 vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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