Last week, by a vote of 65-17, the Oklahoma House passed legislation that will fund nine new Port of Entry weigh and inspection stations in the state, reports The Oklahoman.
The measure creates a fund handled by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission from money redirected from the Higher Education Facilities Fund's fuel tax revenue. The new fund will receive $500,000 a month until it reaches $51 million, which will take more than eight years, says The Oklahoman.
The first of the nine stations opened last week on Interstate 35 in Kay County near the Kansas border. The new station, which cost nearly $11 million, features weigh-in-motion technology that uses road sensors to check vehicles' weight, size and permit status. This allows drivers to be approved before entering the facility.
A second port of entry will open in a few months on Interstate 40 in Beckham County near the Texas border.
