PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. — A proposed bill to ban the use of retreaded tires in Florida is now a dead issue, according to Harvey Brodsky, managing director of the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB).

On behalf of our members and the entire trucking industry in Florida, we are pleased that this is now a dead issue. However, we stand ready to meet with Senator Crist anytime he wishes to take us up on our original offer to create a taskforce in Florida to explore ways to reduce the amount of tire debris on Florida highways, said Brodsky.

Florida senator Victor Crists recently proposed a bill to ban the use of retreaded tires by any truck operating in Florida. A required House companion bill was not forthcoming by the March deadline and this effectively tabled the Senate bill.

We thought Senator Crists bill was ill-advised from the get-go and we look forward to hearing from him any time he wishes to go ahead with the taskforce, which we believe should be made up of representatives from the retread industry, the trucking industry, the Florida Highway Patrol and Department of Transportation, the Florida Trucking Association, The Tire Industry Association, The American Trucking Associations, and any other interested parties. TRIB stands ready to spearhead the taskforce if asked, Brodsky added.