Politics & Government

Baldwin Twp. Officials Crack Down on Oversized Trucks

'Just because somebody's trying to take food out of my family's mouths doesn't mean that I should do the same.' - Scott Bender

Scott Bender wakes up at work each day. He hops in his truck, does a few jobs and then comes back to work, where he parks his truck again and goes to sleep.

Bender, the owner of Benderbuilt Construction, runs his business from his home on Highview Road in , and that includes leaving his large work vehicle—a double-axled box truck—in his driveway at the end of every day.

But that will change whether Bender likes it or not, as Baldwin Township officials have started cracking down on large vehicles—or at least his vehicle for now—parked on residential streets.

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A township code enforcement officer visited Bender's home recently to inform him that there had been a complaint issued against his vehicle and that he can no longer park it along Highview. A local ordinance had been passed by the township's board of commissioners seven months earlier prohibiting such parking.

Bender, who said that he was upset by that news for a couple of days, attended Tuesday night's commissioners meeting with a calmer demeanor, asking for time from township officials so that he can research other parking options.

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"I don't wanna leave my truck there, either," Bender said. "I'm looking for a place, but they're not easy to find. And they're very expensive."

Commissioner John Paravati said that Bender will indeed have to move his truck within a reasonable time frame, but it will be a good while before he ever faces a fine from the township.

"We try to work with people," Paravati said.

Added solicitor Stephanie Yocius, filling in for Baldwin's normal solicitor, Tom McDermott, "Imposing a penalty is always the last (resort)—way down the road, as well."

Bender said that he was unaware of the township's ordinance about commercial vehicles, but Yocius told him that notifications of new laws are posted in Pittsburgh's major newspapers. Commissioner Bob Downey said that the township is working on improvements to its website, as well, so that residents can read ordinances there.

"There's a lot of commercial vehicles in Baldwin Township," Bender said in an interview after the meeting, "but just because somebody ratted me out, I'm not gonna say a word to anybody else.

"I have a family to raise. I don't want someone else to have to move their trucks just because someone doesn't like my truck.

"Just because somebody's trying to take food out of my family's mouths doesn't mean that I should do the same."

Still, for those also parking large trucks in Baldwin Township's residential areas, beware.

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