What’s being considered

BOISE -- We’ve all experienced it - loose gravel or debris flying from the back of a truck bed and cracking your windshield.

It’s something that can be annoying and at times even deadly, but now those loose loads may have to be secured or drivers could face fines.

If passed, the "covered load ordinance" could be in effect by October and would require county residents hauling sand, gravel or any other loose material to secure their loads, in many cases with a tarp, before traveling out on county roads.

Ada and Canyon County representatives backing the ordinance cite safety, economic and environmental reasons for the proposal.

They say unsecured loads can distract or hurt other motorists, and can cost the local government thousands to clean up debris from the roads.  That debris can also affect air quality in the valley.

"It’s really about three things, public safety number one, cost, number two, but the third one, air quality -- as the debris is on the road and it gets ground up by other tires, it creates a particulate air quality issue and we really struggle in the valley to try to protect air quality, so it's an important issue for preserving air quality as well," said Ada County Commissioner Paul Woods.

If the ordinance were passed, drivers who do not secure their loads would be subject to a $50 fine.

County leaders say this is an issue that lots of people have an opinion on and they want to hear those opinions.

There will be several public hearings on the proposal this week.

The first public hearing will be held tonight at Nampa City Hall. Meridian will hold one Tuesday, and Ada County will hold a public hearing Wednesday.