Challenges loom for Litchfield commercial trucking ordinance

By Madeline Ackley Salazar
Mail | Twitter: @Mkayackley

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Litchfield Park’s trucking ordinance may be challenged at the State Legislature, according to a letter signed by Litchfield Park City Manager Matthew Williams.

The ordinance has been in place since 2020 and prevents commercial trucks from passing through the city without a destination point within Litchfield Park proper. 

Starting May 1, those restrictions should have been expanded to include Camelback Road between North 127th Avenue and North Village Parkway – a stretch of road recently brought under Litchfield Park jurisdiction. 

But the city has said it will hold off on ticketing drivers that violate the ordinance as it negotiates with the Arizona Trucking Association, which has strongly opposed what it calls “draconian” and “discriminatory” restrictions on trucks.

READ: Trucking Association behind so-called “scam texts” in Litchfield Park

Representatives from the city and the trucking association are expected to meet Tuesday evening. 

The city of Litchfield Park also has a meeting on Wednesday with State Senate President Karen Fann “to review ideas for compromise,” Williams told The Independent in an email. 

Arizona Trucking Association President Bradley confirmed to The Independent that “there is a legislative option on the table,” but added that the association and city would be meeting “to see if some sort of compromise can be worked through.” 

It is unclear what concessions the city could make that would stop the trucking association from challenging the ordinance at the legislature. Bradley did say that the city of Litchfield did not inform the association of its plans to establish the ordinance back in 2020. 

In Litchfield Park’s letter dated May 2, Williams writes, “This bill is expected to pass both the State House and the State Senate even with City of Litchfield Park’s objection and vigorous citizen contact to our state legislators.”

In mid-April, the Arizona Trucking Association commissioned a survey to be sent to Litchfield residents, prompting them to disclose their level of support for the ordinance. 

It was not known who had sent the survey messages until about a week later, when The Independent learned of the ATA’s involvement. 

Survey questions were clearly biased against the ordinance and the city has called it a “scare tactic” and a “misinformation campaign.” 

Bradley, of the trucking association, has refuted those claims. 

“If we were trying to get the residents of Litchfield Park to take action on an issue, we would not use a poll. There are far more effective and less expensive ways to talk to residents,” he said.

The city of Litchfield Park has taken pains to reiterate the ordinance only applies to through-truck traffic, and does not place restrictions on trucks that have business within The Park.

Madeline Ackley Salazar can be reached at mackley@iniusa.org or found on Twitter @Mkayackley.