Tenn.: Checks Find 596 Safety Violations Statewide

A truck safety inspection crackdown has resulted in 596 violations found and 66 rigs taken off the road.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol led the operation at seven sites across the state last week.

Operation United STOP (Strategic Transportation Observation & Prevention) also included the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee National Guard and the federal Department of Homeland Security.

“We sent a strong message that Tennessee is monitoring individuals who may be transporting illegal or hazardous materials in support of criminal or terrorist activity,” said Department of Safety Commissioner David Mitchell.

Among the rigs checked were 395 trucks hauling hazardous materials. There were 329 trucks checked by bomb or drug dogs and 760 were checked for radiological contaminants.

During the inspections, authorities made three arrests for alcohol violations, one for drugs, one for having no driver’s license and one for fraudulent use of identification.

The THP coordinated a previous Operation STOP in October.

Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press,
http://www.timesfreepress.com