As I read the recent complaints about the truck traffic through Moorpark, I thought that I had heard some of these complaints before. Sure enough, a quick search of the on-line Moorpark Acorn achieves showed that this concern about the truck traffic is nothing new. A solution would be something new, but much harder.

Last year alone, there were at least three articles or letters in the Moorpark Acorn addressing this problem. In September, there was an article on various local and state agencies working together to solve this problem.

Further back, in March 2006, there was an article describing Assemblymember Strickland's introduction of a bill to fund full-time operation of the truck weigh station west of Moorpark.

A week earlier, the editor addressed this same problem in an op-ed piece.

I would also like to humbly add that this same concern appeared in a couple of these columns as far back as March 2004. Those of you who remember the earlier column in January will recognize this as another example of the influence of this column. March seems to be a very popular time to be concerned about traffic.

It seems that there is no shortage of folks concerned about the problem and there are plenty of people looking for a solution. We're just a little short on people with a solution.

One of the main causes of the incredible amount of truck traffic through our town is the fact that Highway 118 bypasses the grade while at the same time bypassing the inspection station on the 101 Freeway. As Mayor Hunter has pointed out, this has the additional effect of causing Moorpark citizens to bypass Moorpark altogether and shop somewhere else.

Back in the March 2004 articles, I wrote about the always exciting 18-wheeler races in Moorpark. With all of the traffic today, there are no longer any long distance events. Most of the races today are sprints. As a result, there needs to be some retooling of the rules.

The first rule will be that if a driver can't get the front wheels of the truck and all of the rear wheels of the truck across the intersection on the same green light the driver is disqualified and banished to life of steep grades and inspection stations.

Maybe we can jazz the competition up a little. Let's say that before a candidate is allowed to run for state office, he or she will need to drive Los Angeles Avenue continuously from the 23 Freeway to the inspection station between noon and 4 p.m. on Friday. If they are opposed to this, we'll just tell them that it's a parade. After all, the speeds are about the same and they'll probably never know the difference.

But, I bet they'll complain about all of truck traffic when they're finished and immediately move to form a committee to study the problem. Hopefully, the meetings will not be held in Moorpark on account of all of the truck traffic.

Finally, as I sat in the dentist's office the other day and looked out the window to the corner of Los Angeles Avenue and Spring Road, two thoughts ran through my mind. I had to question where all of these trucks were coming from, and going to, since they didn't seen to be stopping in Moorpark other than to line up at the traffic lights.

The other thought that crossed my mind was more personal. I couldn't help but wonder that with all of these trucks passing through, why couldn't just one of them drop off a couple of boxes of Eskimo Pies somewhere in Moorpark.