Presented by

Jan Blacklock MatthewsCity of Wilson Municipal Judge

Types of Vehicleson the Road

• Passenger Cars• Commercial Vehicles

a) Straight Trucks

b) Truck Tractors

Cab-Over Tractors

Conventional Tractors

Length Limits in Texas

Weight LimitsPassenger Car vs Truck

$$$

TexasOversize/

Overweight Permit FeeRevenue

$$$

Stopping Distance@ 55 mph

Passenger Car

55 feet

Commercial Vehicle

430 feet

Don’t Cut Off Trucks!!

• Check Traffic Front and Behind• Signal Intent• Commit to Your Move and Pass Quickly• Move Back Only when Front of Truck

Visible in Rear View Mirror

Stay Out of Blind SpotsNO ZONES

Look for Truck Driver’s Face!

Following Distances

What problems do you foresee?1. Severely limits YOUR view.2. Sudden stop may cause under-ride crash.3. Debris or truck tire blow out.4. Not following 3-second rule?

Trucks Make Wide Turns

Trucks move Left for Right Turns…and swing Right for Left Turns

Share the road … Attempt to determine intent of

truck driver Drive defensively Avoid passing when trucks turning

Moving Off the RoadMove Over Law

• Right Shoulder• TX Trans. Code 545.157—

Vacate lane nearest

Reduction in speed of 20 mph

Promising Safety Features??

30 YEARS

--for a promising safety feature to spread to 95 percent of vehicles on the road

…AND SOME for decades

Ethical IssuesJudges

Code of Judicial ConductCanon 4B - Activities to Improve Law

Canon 2 - Avoiding Impropriety

Canon 3 - Impartiality in Duties

Canon 4 - Extrajudicial Activities

Canon 5 - Refrain from Inappropriate Political Activities

Other Ethical Issues?

• Judges must ensure their staff observe “the standards of fidelity and diligence“

• Gifts – TX Penal Code §36.02 (Bribery)

Pecuniary Gain or Advantage?

Plaque?

**Value is a question of fact**

Ethics Checklist

• Reflect adversely on impartiality?• Detract from dignity of office?• Involve considerable controversy?• Improper political endorsement?• Promote private interest of another?• Illegal discrimination?• Interfere with proper performance of

duties?

Funded by grants from the

Texas Department of Transportation

And

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Jan Blacklock Matthews

lubbock7@sbcglobal.net

806-470-5474

Lisa Robinson, CFLE

Robinson@tmcec.com

Grant Administrator

512.320.8274

www.tmcec.com