Tucson, Ariz. – Operation Southern Shield began Tuesday, March 6, and runs through Thursday, March 8, 2018. Troopers and participating agencies will be patrolling the interstates and state highways in southern Arizona, enforcing state and federal commercial vehicle laws.
Operation Southern Shield is a multi-agency operation, led by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS), with the goal of increasing the safe operation of commercial vehicles through enforcement of federal and state laws. Historical data shows poor commercial driving and fatigue are primary factors contributing to collisions involving commercial vehicles. Enforcement during the operation will focus on driving behaviors such as speed, improper lane change, unsafe following distance, texting and use of cell phones by commercial vehicle drivers. Enforcement action will also focus on hours of service violations by commercial vehicle drivers. Non-commercial vehicles that operate unsafely around commercial vehicles will also be stopped.
In addition to AZDPS commercial vehicle enforcement troopers, the following agencies will be participating:
- Arizona Department of Transportation
- Arizona Trucking Association
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Marana Police Department
- Oro Valley Police Department
- Tucson Police Department
AZDPS Captain, Jeff Lane said, “Participation in this operation helps demonstrate the commitment our partners and the department has in promoting safe travel along Arizona’s highways by working to reduce collisions involving commercial vehicles.”