Nashville, Tennessee --- The Tennessee Department of Safety advises that the Tennessee Highway Patrol will conduct Operation United S.T.O.P. (Strategic Transportation Observation & Prevention) Wednesday, October 11, from 7:00 am until 3:00 pm local time. During Operation United S.T.O.P., 17 simultaneous Homeland Security Hazardous Materials Checkpoints will be held in locations across the state. These checkpoints will focus on trucks that carry hazardous materials, overseas containers and rental trucks.

A press conference will be held at 2:00 pm Central Time at the I-65 Southbound Scales. In attendance will be THP Colonel Mike Walker, TBI Director Mark Gwyn, Director of TEMA General James Bassham, and State Office of Homeland Security Deputy Director Rick Shipkowski. Representatives of other agencies assisting with this operation will also attend.

The goal of Operation United S.T.O.P. is to be pro-active in deterring a terrorist event by conducting random truck inspections across the state. This is the largest simultaneous inspection operation of its kind ever conducted by one state.

The checkpoints will be held at the following locations:

District One - Knoxville

Knox County Scales Complex - I-40 East and Westbound

District Two - Chattanooga

Monteagle Mountain Brake Check Area - I-24 Eastbound

I-75 Chattanooga Rest Area - I-75 Southbound at MM 13

I-75 Cleveland Rest Area - I-75 Northbound at MM 23

Manchester Scales - I-24 East and Westbound

District Three - Nashville

Robertson County Scales - I-65 North and Southbound MM 119

District Four - Memphis

Haywood County Scales - I-40 East and Westbound at MM 50

I-155 Dyer County Parking Area - I-155 Southbound at MM 6

District Five - Fall Branch

Greene County Scales - I-81 Southbound at MM 21

I-40 Cocke County Rest Area - I-40 Westbound

I-26 @ Sam's Gap - Unicoi County - I-26 Northbound

District Six - Cookeville

I-40 Smith County Rest Area - I-40 Eastbound

District Seven - Lawrenceburg

I-65 Maury County Rest Area - I-65 Northbound at MM 48

Several state and federal agencies are assisting with the checkpoints, including the federal and state Department of Homeland Security, TEMA, TBI, FBI, ATF, TDOT, TDEC, the Bomb and Arson Squad of the Department of Commerce and Insurance, the National Guard, THP Special Operations and CID, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and local police agencies.

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tn.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.