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Updated: March 19, 2020

Police passes and nitrile gloves: Global crisis means changes on Maine's roads

Photo / William Hall The Maine Turnpike Authority has seen a decline in traffic since the onset of the pandemic, and is making changes in response to it.
By William Hall

While the world’s transportation system is reeling from the impact of COVID-19, the pandemic is affecting more than airlines and cruise ships.

In Maine, some of the impact is felt on the state’s roads.

Along the Maine Turnpike, car traffic began falling Sunday from typical levels, according to Peter Mills, executive director of the authority that oversees the 109-mile toll highway between York and Augusta.

However, the volume of trucks was up — possibly because they were rushing goods to store shelves emptied in pandemic panic buying, Mills told Mainebiz. So overall, “traffic was pretty strong.” 

But soon more Mainers were self-quarantining, social distancing and working from home.

On Monday, pike traffic was down 20% from the same day a year ago, according to Mills. On Tuesday, the volume was down 15%. Still, revenue was off just 5%, he said, since again trucks — which pay higher tolls — were out in force.

Mills recounted to Mainebiz: “One of our Turnpike engineers said, ‘Those trucks don't even beat up the road.  All they’re carrying is toilet paper.’”

Restaurant business at service plazas along the Turnpike is also off by 35% to 45%. While take-out service is still permitted at the highway stops, the Maine Turnpike Authority has allowed its contractor to close most of the eateries, “just enough for the building to stay open and to keep the bathrooms clean,” Mills said.

The MTA is responding to the pandemic in other ways, too.

On Wednesday, the authority closed its E-Z Pass customer service center for an indefinite period. On Thursday, the MTA planned to roll out a crisis plan that would “keep the road staffed while decreasing the number [of employees] showing up every day through staggered or rotating shifts — at least for the next two weeks, and perhaps longer," Mills said.

The authority has also expanded job benefits, including protected leave, so workers can take care of themselves and their families during the public health crisis.

And all toll collectors have been issued hand sanitizers, disinfectants and special nitrile gloves for use when taking fares.

“We have crates of them in inventory and each toll site has boxes in various sizes. The supply is checked daily,” Mills said.

Give 'em a pass

Meanwhile, on some southern Maine roads, police are adopting unusual measures to help motorists who may end up violating the law because of the coronavirus.

Under Maine statute, drivers of newly purchased cars have 14 days to replace their temporary vehicle registrations with permanent ones. That usually requires a visit to a town hall, city hall, or an office of the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Problem is, all BMV offices are closed during the pandemic. So are most municipal offices. As a temporary tag approaches its expiration date, at which point a $50 fine may be imposed, what’s the driver of a new car to do?

In Cumberland and Falmouth, police have responded by pledging not to cite motorists for the violation within town limits. And for residents of those towns who might worry about driving elsewhere with an expired temporary registration, the police chiefs have each posted a downloadable letter on their town websites.

"Please allow this letter to serve as documentation that you, despite your best efforts, have been unable to register your new vehicle with the Town of Falmouth," reads the letter from Falmouth Police Chief John Kilbride.

In Cumberland, Police Chief Charles Rumsey offers similar assistance in his letter.

The letters explain the dilemma, and ask other law enforcement officials to understand.

“We trust that this letter provides sufficient evidence that the operator of a vehicle displaying expired temporary registration plates has made a good faith effort to register their vehicle unsuccessfully," Kilbride writes. "Due to circumstances outside of the vehicle owner’s control, we respectfully request leniency be granted for this violation of Maine law.”

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