Florida is stepping up its response to the Aug. 12 crash on the Florida Turnpike in which three people were killed.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier today announced he is sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration urging them to revoke commercial driver’s license program authority and strip related federal funding from California and Washington following the crash.
“States like California and Washington ignored the rules, gave an illegal alien a license to drive a 40-ton truck, and three people are dead as a result. A preventable tragedy due to sanctuary state policies,” said Uthmeier at a press conference. “In response, we’re supporting our Agricultural Law Enforcement and state police to ramp up inspections at state entry-points for illegal aliens who may be operating large trucks using out-of-state driver’s licenses. If you’re here illegally or can’t speak English, you have no business operating large commercial vehicles on Florida’s roads.
“We commend Commissioner (Wilton) Simpson and his department’s certified law enforcement officers for turning Florida’s interdiction stations into strongholds of immigration enforcement. Together, we will ensure dangerous drivers are taken off the road and criminals serve their time before deportation.”
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Commissioner Simpson made his announcement with Uthmeier at an agricultural interdiction station along Interstate 10 in Live Oak, Florida.
All FDACS sworn law enforcement officers were certified in July, and they are being stationed at interdiction checkpoints to work together with federal and state partners on immigration enforcement and checking for English proficiency for commercial drivers while continuing agricultural inspections.
These interdiction stations, which are distinct from state Department of Transportation weigh stations, will serve as critical enforcement points to stop human smuggling, fraudulent documents, and unsafe commercial vehicles, according to Simpson.
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