Arizona plans ‘major’ CMV enforcement blitz, starting Tuesday

The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) has announced that a multi-agency commercial vehicle enforcement effort will take place in the southern part of the state next week.

According to AZDPS, Operation Southern Shield 2022 will take place from Tuesday, February 22nd, through Friday, February 25th, on Interstate 10 from Phoenix to the New Mexico state line, and on Interstate 19 to the international border.

The purpose of the enforcement effort is to target hazardous driving violations, conduct commercial motor vehicle (CMV) inspections, and educate drivers on safe and compliant operation in an effort to reduce crashes involving commercial motor vehicles. Non-commercial vehicles that operate unsafely around CMVs will also be stopped, officials say.

The blitz will be spearheaded by the newly formed AZDPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Task Force (CVETF), which is comprised of AZDPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers and Arizona Department of Transportation Enforcement and Compliance Division officers.

Other agencies assisting with the effort include the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, the Marana Police Department, the Oro Valley Police Department and the Tucson Police Department.