Commercial trucks that travel under overpasses on Westchester?s parkways are facing heftier fines and penalties for 2009.

Officials hope increased fines will deter truck drivers from using local parkways, on which the overpasses are too low. Commercial vehicles weighing less than 26,000 pounds will be fined $250 for the first violation, $500 for the second and $700 for the third. Drivers of bigger trucks will have to pay $350 for the first offense, $700 for the second and $1,000 for the third.

?Sure it's a good idea,? says Connie Donotrio, of Pleasantville. ?They shouldn't be on the parkways like that.?

Others say out-of-state drivers who are unaware of the fines will continue to drive on the parkways.