Virginia State Police Prepare for Truckers' Protest on Beltway Friday

By Beth Lawton

Virginia State Police are taking seriously the reports that hundreds of commercial independent truckers plan to flood the Capital Beltway this weekend.

"Truckers Ride for the Constitution," a convoy of large commercial transport trucks, may be crowding the Inner Loop of Interstate 495 on Friday morning. 

The truck drivers reportedly are protesting a number of issues, from pay to gas prices, government regulations on their industry, recent practices of the National Security Administration and the country’s financial status, according to The Hill.

Whether the plan is a hoax remains unclear. One truck driver, Earl Conlon, has told media outlets the idea that thousands of trucks will descend on the Beltway really is a hoax, but Ride for the Constitution organizers say Conlon does not speak for the organization and the ride is still on. 

The Ride for the Constitution Facebook page now has more than 118,000 fans — approximately double the number of fans it had Monday. Even if the plan is a hoax, there could be increased traffic from truck drivers who are taking the event seriously.

The Virginia State Police issued the following statement:

Virginia State Police is aware of the proposed convoy of commercial vehicles and is preparing accordingly with the region’s law enforcement agencies and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), just as we have done in the past for similar demonstrations held within the National Capital Region. As long as the vehicles comply with Virginia law, then the Virginia State Police will not interfere with their activities.

VSP will have additional troopers working Friday and on through the weekend in Northern Virginia to respond to any incidents that may arise – traffic crashes, disabled vehicles, etc. – in order to expedite clearance of the highways and keep traffic moving safely throughout the region.