Cook County Concedes Truck Decals Are Prohibited

Cook County, Ill., has conceded that its ordinance requiring trucks to display tax-related decals violates federal law that holds such decals are burdensome to the trucking industry.

In 2008 American Trucking Associations filed a complaint with the Federal Motor Carrier Administration about decals and other types of identification that state and local governments often require trucks to carry, usually as proof the truckers have paid a local tax.

ATA told FMCSA that Cook County, New York City and New Jersey were among the jurisdictions violating federal law Last fall, FMCSA asked the three to respond to the complaint.

So far, the only response made public recently by the FMCSA came from Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez who said the county “acknowledges that it is preempted by federal law from requiring commercial vehicles to display” a window sticker showing the truck’s wheel tax is paid up.

Cook County is currently reviewing the ordinance and is not enforcing it, the letter said.

By Michele Fuetsch
Staff Reporter