WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) has introduced legislation to codify and enforce President Trump's Executive Order requiring commonsense rules of the road for American truck drivers.
H.R. 5177 – "The Weigh station Enforcement to Intercept and Guard Highways (WEIGH) Act" is the 20th piece of legislation proposed by Congressman Donalds during the 119th Congress and requires that all weigh stations along interstate highways review the Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) of truckers for irregularities and verify the English language proficiency of truckers.
Specifically, "The WEIGH Act" empowers the Department of Transportation (DOT) to utilize weigh stations along interstate highways to enforce President Trump’s April 28th Executive Order entitled “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers." H.R. 5177 directs DOT to ensure states enforce English language proficiency requirements and review CDLs for irregularities during checks at weigh stations. States that fail to comply with weigh station enforcement protocols set by the Secretary of Transportation will risk revocation of their CDL program authority and federal highway dollars.
“The failure of states to enforce basic and commonsense requirements for truckers is putting every American motorist at risk," said Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL). "At the state level, Governor DeSantis and Commissioner Simpson have taken action to protect Floridians, but it’s imperative that we expand this effort nationwide. Under my ‘WEIGH Act,’ all weigh stations along interstate highways will be required to enforce President Trump’s Executive Order to review commercial driver licenses for irregularities and verify the English language proficiency of truckers. Safety must be the standard, not the exception, and on Capitol Hill I’m fighting to ensure that the American people are put first every step of the way. The elimination of these threats to the American people is non-negotiable.”
“The Florida Department of Agriculture is proud to be a force multiplier for President Trump's comprehensive border security effort," said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. "If you drive a truck through our interdiction stations, you're prepared for us to check your load for bugs and drugs. Because of President Trump, we now do so much more. Since he took office, we have helped take nearly 150 illegal immigrants off our streets - including murders and child predators. We'll also call if a driver cannot communicate in the English language. If you can't read our signs, you shouldn't be on our roads. Ag law will find those who violate our laws and we will ensure that justice is served.”
BACKGROUND:
On August 12th, an illegal alien trucker named Harjinder Singh made an illegal U-turn near mile marker 171 on the Florida Turnpike, jackknifed his trailer, and collided with an oncoming vehicle leaving all passengers dead.
Following the crash Singh was failed an English Proficiency Test (answering just two of twelve questions correctly) and failed a Road Sign Test (answering just one of four questions correctly).
Investigations in Jacksonville, revealed a criminal scheme allowing illegal aliens to obtain CDLs without demonstrating English proficiency or basic road sign knowledge.
Currently, CDL issuance and compliance are decided by state agencies creating enforcement gaps that allow drivers from sanctuary states to bypass federal standards.
State troopers enforcing CDL compliance at weigh stations adds another and much needed level of immigration enforcement, protecting United States highways from further accidents by illegal aliens.
