NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Highway Patrol is holding Operation S.T.O.P. (Strategic Transportation Observation Prevention) today, Tuesday, March 24, 2009, in Marion County on Monteagle Mountain. During the 12-hour enforcement program, Troopers will team up with members from more than a dozen other agencies to inspect commercial vehicles at the brake inspection station on Interstate 24 eastbound near mile marker 135. The officers will be focusing on overseas containers, trucks carrying hazardous materials and rental trucks.
WHO: Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security, Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Emergency Management
Agency, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Department of Revenue,
Marion County Sheriff’s Department, Monteagle Police Department, Tennessee National
Guard, Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Department of Commerce & Insurance and the F.B.I.
WHAT: Operation S.T.O.P.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 24, 2009
3:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
WHERE: Brake Inspection Station, Interstate 24 eastbound
Monteagle, TN
Marion County
Operation S.T.O.P. focuses on commercial vehicles, rental trucks and cargo tanks. Using Homeland Security type checkpoints, every effort is made to stop, evaluate and inspect as many of these commercial vehicles as possible. These checkpoints will be held randomly throughout the year across the state to monitor hazardous materials traveling on Tennessee’s roadways. The Tennessee Highway Patrol wants to make sure that these types of hazardous materials are in compliance with state and federal guidelines.
The Tennessee Department of Safety’s mission is (www.tennessee.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.