Security & Safety Briefs July 14 - July 20
The Latest Headlines:
- Texas to Allow Truckers to Idle Engines While Resting
- U.S. Appeals Court Overturns Canadian Beef Ban
- Runge Departs NHTSA for Homeland Security Post
- Authorities Arrest Illegal Immigrants With Hazmat CDLs
- Truckers Alert Police to Bomb Threat
- U.S. Appeals Court Overturns Canadian Beef Ban
Texas to Allow Truckers to Idle Engines While Resting
Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) signed into law a bill allowing truck drivers to idle their rigs while resting in the vehicle’s sleeper berth, a staffer with the governor’s office said.The law, signed by Perry last month, takes effect Sept. 1 and lasts two years. It would override current state law, which prohibits heavy-duty trucks from idling more than five minutes from April 1 through Oct. 31.
Bill Webb, president of the Texas Motor Transportation Association, said the law was needed because it allows drivers to run the vehicle’s air conditioner during federally-mandated rest periods.
The new measure, however, prohibits idling by commercial truck drivers in a school zone or within 1,000 feet of a public school during school hours, according to the bill. Violators could be fined up to $500. Thelma Guerrero
U.S. Appeals Court Overturns Canadian Beef Ban
A federal appeals court overturned a ban on imports of Canadian cattle, throwing out a lower court's ruling that renewing the imports could spread mad cow disease in the United States, the Associated Press reported.The U.S. Department of Agriculture was not immediately available to comment Thursday on when it would allow imports of Canadian cattle to resume, AP said.
The imports were banned in May 2003 after a cow in Alberta, Canada was found to have mad cow disease.
The first native U.S. case of mad cow disease was discovered last month originating in Texas. (Click here for previous coverage.)
The decision came a day after the U.S. Justice Department urged the appeals court in Seattle to reopen the border to imports, AP reported.
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association, which represents some 90,000 beef producers, estimates they have lost more than $5.6 billion since the ban was established, AP said. Transport Topics
Runge Departs NHTSA for Homeland Security Post
Jeffrey Runge will be leaving his post as administrator of the Transportation Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to become the Department of Homeland Security’s new Chief Medical Officer, DOT said Thursday.In his new post, Runge, a medical doctor, will coordinate DHS’s response to biological and other potentially catastrophic attacks. He departs DOT after four years heading up the nation’s highway safety agency.
“Jeff has been a bold advocate and tireless proponent of improved vehicle and highway safety the last four years. We are all a little bit safer because of his dedication to safety,” said DOT Secretary Norman Mineta.
During his tenure, Runge helped Mineta achieve the lowest highway fatality rate and the highest safety-belt usage rate in U.S. history, DOT said. Transport Topics
Authorities Arrest Illegal Immigrants With Hazmat CDLs
Authorities in Chicago arrested six illegal immigrants and were looking for 10 more who managed to get Illinois commercial driver's licenses that permit them to haul hazardous materials, the Associated Press reported.No terrorist activity or public safety issues were involved, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Tim Counts told AP.
The six men — from the Philippines, Jordan, Belize and Mongolia — were arrested in the Chicago area during last month, and the government has begun deportation proceedings against them, Counts said. Transport Topics
Truckers Alert Police to Bomb Threat
A man was arrested Wednesday after telling truckers via CB radio he was headed to Washington with a van full of explosives, the Associated Press reported.Terry Daniel, 44, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, used the words “bomb,” “explosive,” "Washington, D.C.” and “president,” over the radio around 3 a.m. while heading eastbound on Interstate 80 in central Illinois, police officials told AP.
After being alerted by truck drivers, police took the man into custody at a service station about 100 miles southwest of Chicago. Authorities charged Daniel with felony disorderly conduct, but additional charges could be coming, AP reported. Transport Topics
