According to a press release from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, several law enforcement agencies in Arizona are participating in “Operation Southern Shield” commercial enforcement blitz.
Operation Southern Shield will take place in the southern Arizona area and “seeks to ensure that all commercial vehicles and drivers are in compliance with Federal Motor Safety Regulations.” CMV officers will be conducting roving patrols on Interstate 10 from Tucson to the New Mexico border and Interstate 19 to the Mexico border. Additionally, an inspection site will be set up at the Canoa Rest Area on Interstate 19. During inspections, commercial vehicle inspectors will be looking for the following:
- Commercial vehicles that are mechanically unsafe for operation on the highways. This will include the security of loads being carried.
- Drivers who fail to wear safety restraints.
- Drivers who are fatigued, ill, impaired, or otherwise unable to safely operate a commercial vehicle.
- Drivers who are in violation of federal hours of service laws.
Operation Southern Shield runs March 1-3.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety Commercial Vehicle Unit will be conducting Driver Awareness Regulation Training (DART), a program created to educate CMV drivers on the latest rules and regulations. The DART team will set up at the TTT Truck Stop on Interstate 10 at the Craycroft Exit on March 1 and 2.
Captain Jeff Lane said, “I feel that operations, such as Operation Southern Shield, demonstrates the dedication that ADPS and partners have to providing education to commercial vehicle drivers. We are striving to help provide safer travel on Arizona highways”
In addition to ADPS the following agencies will be participating in this year’s Operation Southern Shield:
- Arizona Department of Transportation
- Arizona Trucking Association
- Federal Motor Safety Administration
- Marana Police Department
- Oro Valley Police Department
- Tucson Police Department