| Bills to legalize overweight coal trucks on designated routes in 16 southern counties, and to raise the cigarette tax to 55 cents a pack passed the Senate Friday without debate.
One bill would create coal haul routes where specially permitted trucks could legally run at weights of up to 126,000 pounds.
The West Virginia Department of Highways has said it would cost several billion dollars to upgrade state roads to handle the weight.
West Virginia Coal Association Vice President Chris Hamilton said Friday he is optimistic it will pass. "It appears there is a majority of members in the House who favor this particular version of the bill."
Last year, the legislature narrowly halted a bill during a special session after Delegate Mike Caputo successfully amended the proposal to set an 80,000-pound limit.
Coal trucks have been hauling overweight for years, violating the 60,000 and 80,000 pound law. Many trucks were ticketed at more than double the legal weights.
In a period of two years or so, more than a dozen West Virginians were killed in accidents with overweight trucks.
Last week, a group of citizens whose family members were killed by the trucks presented a several hours of video tape they filmed following coal trucks which frequently drove left of center. The presentation was made on E-Day at the capitol, but few legislators viewed the display, they said.
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