Four men traveling in a commercial truck were taken into federal custody in Michigan after a traffic stop revealed that the driver did not have a commercial driver’s license, according to authorities.
The incident occurred shortly after 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, in Saginaw, Michigan. A Michigan State Police motor carrier officer stopped a commercial truck hauling a trailer on Hanchett Street near Davenport Avenue, MLive.com reported.
According to MSP Lt. Kim Vetter, the officer initially pulled the vehicle over because of defective equipment and a load that had not been properly secured.
During the inspection, the officer determined that the driver did not hold a CDL. Authorities also found five people inside the truck. None of the occupants spoke English or had identification documents with them.
The Michigan State Police officer then contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for assistance in identifying the occupants.
CBP agents carried out immigration inspections and determined that four of the people in the truck were Honduran nationals who were unlawfully present in the United States after overstaying their visas, according to the agency.
The four men were subsequently taken into federal custody.
The driver, however, was not arrested. The Michigan State Police officer released him after issuing a citation for operating a commercial vehicle without a CDL. The company that owns the truck was also cited for defective equipment.
Authorities did not identify the trucking company involved. They also did not disclose where the truck had originated or where it was headed, what cargo it was carrying, or whether the driver was employed by the carrier.
Why it matters
The traffic stop illustrates how a routine commercial vehicle inspection can lead to the discovery of licensing and immigration issues. It also comes as state and federal authorities continue to scrutinize compliance with commercial driver licensing requirements.
