Complaints from law-abiding truckers sparked 3-day commercial blitz in Wyoming

Complaints from law-abiding truckers were the impetus for a three day commercial blitz in Wyoming last week resulting in 40 pending deportations. 

Operation Safe Haul took place November 18th through the 20th along I-25, I-80, US-85, and state highways and county roads in Cheyenne, Carpenter, Burns, Pine Bluffs, and Albin, Wyoming. The blitz yielded approximately 205 traffic stops. These resulted in 40 deportation hearings, 133 commercial vehicle inspections, and 44 trucks and 38 drivers placed out of service. 

Of the OOS placements, 45 were due to brake system violations, 16 were from licensing issues, 10 were from English language proficiency violations, and two were due to drug violations.

Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak told Cowboy State Daily that the entire operation was started when law-abiding truckers continuously reported undocumented truck drivers skipping ports of entry in the early hours of the morning. 

“It actually surprised me, to be honest with you, how bad of problem this is,” said Kozak. “The ratio of unlicensed drivers was unbelievable to me.”

“The safety of Wyoming’s motoring public is our top priority,” WHP Col. Tim Cameron said in a statement. “We will continue to engage in aggressive and proactive enforcement aimed at reducing crashes and ensuring that commercial carriers operating in our state are in full compliance with safety standards.”