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Arizona drivers would have to secure their loads on all streets, not just highways, under proposal

A bill that would require cars to secure their loads on all Arizona roadways passed out of a Senate committee this week.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Shawnna Bolick (R-Phoenix), would require all vehicles to be loaded in a safe and secure way on all streets, expanding the definition from just highways. 

It would also take out an exemption for agricultural products. 

Lobbyist Mike Infanzon emphasized to lawmakers that the volume of debris on the roadways is staggering according to data from the education program Don’t Trash Arizona, which was implemented by the Maricopa Association of Governments in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Transportation.

At the bill's first committee hearing on Thursday, Infanzon said “850,000 pounds of litter get picked up from Valley freeways each year, that’s just in the Valley. A significant portion of that is, like Senator Bolick said, is made up of trash from debris that flies out of vehicles.”

The bill cleared its first legislative hearing, 5-2, with bipartisan support, although two Republicans voted against the bill. 

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Camryn Sanchez is a field correspondent at KJZZ covering everything to do with state politics.