Undocumented Immigrant Truck Drivers Targeted

By The News Service of Florida

Lawmakers started moving forward Tuesday with a proposal crafted in response to a deadly crash involving an undocumented-immigrant truck driver on Florida’s Turnpike.

The Republican-dominated Senate Transportation Committee voted 6-3 along party lines to approve a bill (SB 86) that would require law-enforcement officers to take into custody truck drivers who are determined to be undocumented immigrants and help transfer them to federal immigration officials. Also, it would require impounding trucks driven by undocumented immigrants taken into custody and imposing a $50,000 fine on the vehicles’ owners.

“The purpose of the bill is to remove imminent hazards from our highways and to discourage and penalize those who would use illegals to operate a commercial vehicle on Florida roads,” bill sponsor Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said.

The bill came after a semi-tractor trailer driver, Harjinder Singh, a native of India, was arrested in August following a crash that allegedly stemmed from him attempting a U-Turn on the turnpike in St. Lucie County. Three people died in the crash. Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, has filed a House version of the bill (HB 1247).

4 Comments

  1. Tally Patriot
    Tally Patriot

    David B-He should be deported and imprisoned in his own country for life. U.S. taxpayers should not be paying for his imprisonment.

  2. Edward Lyle
    Edward Lyle

    "Undocumented Immigrant (also known as Illegal Alien) Truck Drivers Targeted"

    As well they should be.

  3. DavidB
    DavidB

    Singh doesn't need to be deported. He needs to go to prison for life.

  4. David T. Hawkins
    David T. Hawkins

    I wouldn't say they are TARGETED, more like a long list of illegals being sought for Deportation. I like the fact that they actually now plan to go after those who hire them.

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