S.C. man gets life for killing trucker; 'Jason's Law' still in committee

The Trucker News Services

12/8/2009

ST. MATTHEWS, S.C. — A South Carolina man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a New York trucker who had pulled off the interstate to rest.

Willie Pelzer III, 23, was convicted Dec. 4 of fatally shooting Jason Rivenburg, 35, on March 5. The Fultonham, N.Y., father of three was found dead in the cab of his tractor-trailer two days later at an abandoned gas station off Interstate 26.

Prosecutors said Pelzer stalked and ambushed Rivenburg, shooting him twice in the head. They said Pelzer wanted money for drugs. Rivenburg had just $7 on him.

Defense attorneys argued the case lacked physical evidence.

Two men charged with accessory to the murder testified against Pelzer.

Rivenburg's wife gave birth to twins two weeks after he died.

It took the just only four hours to find Pelzer guilty of murder after he admitted in open court that he killed Rivenburg for the $7 he found on him.

A judge sentenced Pelzer to life in prison without parole.

Rivenburg’s death led Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., to introduce a bill in the House titled “Jason’s Law.”

On the Senate side, Charles Schumer, D-NY, also introduced a Jason’s Law bill.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, has signed on as a co-sponsor to the bill.

Tonko’s said his bill would provide grant money to increase security and improve conditions at truck stops across the country.

“Jason Rivenburg was the victim of a senseless act of violence, and this bill is a way for us to honor his memory by providing greater measure of safety for truckers,” Tonko said when he introduced the bill. “If we are going to require truck drivers to get a needed amount of rest in the course of their workday to protect themselves and other motorists, than it makes sense that we partner with local governments and private companies to provide enough safe, secure areas to park.

Both bills are still in committee.

Beau Duffy, a spokesman for Tonko, said the Congressman and his staff were working to find the appropriate vehicle to get the bill through Congress.

Tonko had hoped to attached his bill to the new transportation funding bill, but since that bill remains in limbo, Duffy said Tonko’s staff was exploring other options.

In the meantime Tonko has signed up another co-sponsor, Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska.

“It is important for this bill to have bi-partisan support,” Duffy said.

“Jason’s Law” would create a six year pilot program that would make $120 million available in from of grants ($20 million per year) for local governments and private companies to address the shortage of parking for commercial vehicles on the National Highway System. The grants would provide funding for several initiatives:

• Construction of safety rest areas that include parting for commercial motor vehicles.

• Constructing commercial motor vehicle parking facilities next to commercial truck stops and travel plazas.

• Opening existing facilities for commercial motor vehicle parking, including inspection and weigh stations and park-and-ride facilities.

• Promoting the availability of publicly or privately provided commercial motor vehicle parking on the National Highway System.

• Constructing turnouts along the National Highway System for commercial motor vehicles

• Making capital improvements to public commercial motor vehicle parking facilities currently closed on a seasonal basis.

• Improving the geometric design of interchanges on the National Highway System to improve access to commercial motor vehicle parking facilities.

Priority would be given to grant applicants that can demonstrate a severe shortage of commercial motor vehicle parking, who have consulted with affected government agencies, community groups, and private companies, and demonstrate that the projects would have positive effects on highway safety, traffic congestion, or air quality.

The Trucker staff can be contacted to comment on this article at editor@thetrucker.com.

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