Drivers, secure your cargo. The Washington State Patrol stopped two vehicles Wednesday with potentially dangerous loose loads.
Trooper Johnna Batiste posted a photo of a pick-up truck hauling at least 11 mattresses on southbound I-5 in Tacoma. Just hours later, Batiste tweeted another image of an unsecured refrigerator in the bed of another pick-up in Pierce County.
The Washington State Patrol carries out periodic emphasis patrols on loose loads. This past April, troopers were doling out tickets with a minimum fine of $228. Trooper Joe Amstrong says the citation could be even higher, depending on the circumstances.
Armstrong referenced a case that brought extensive awareness to loose loads. In 2004, then 24-year-old Maria Federici was driving behind a U-Haul with unsecured particle board. It flew off the truck and through her windshield. Federici was permanently blinded by the incident and suffered major injuries to her face. She was awarded $15 million for her pain and suffering, and led state leaders to change the law to create more serious penalties for drivers of unsecured loads.
Editor's note: Video report originally published April 27, 2018
