Thread: Crossing the Border

Crossing the Border

Reported by: Mike Parker
Email: michaelparker@clearchannel.com
Last Update: 6:08 pm

If your daily commute already involves sharing the road with big rigs get ready for more... from Mexico.

Starting Thursday thousands of Mexican truck drivers will be allowed across the border for the first time ever to haul cargo deep into the U.S., including our area.


But does the new federal program put Americans at risk?

It’s tough enough to know if the tractor trailer you passed today has solid breaks. If that truck had a Mexican license plate would you wonder even more? What about smuggling drugs or even people? What about American jobs?

They’re all concerns CBS 21 News heard Thursday that could become a reality in just two days.

Take a look around area truck stops and you'll quickly see that local is hard to find. More plates and placards are from Florida, Wisconsin, and Texas- and soon, from Mexico.

"My personal opinion on it is, they live in Mexico let them work in Mexico. They take enough of our jobs here," says Vicki Galindo, Oklahoma City, OK.

But while American truckers we spoke worry that their livelihood is on the line when the southernmost U.S. border is loosened on Thursday.

The bigger concern could be safety on the road, but maybe not as much as you think.

It will be a long-awaited move planned in the 1994 NAFTA agreement, and a pilot program starting Thursday will only allow up to 100 Mexican truck carriers to operate a limited amount of trucks in the U.S., and each must pass strict U.S. inspections before being allowed in.

"Of course, we're going to be alert to the fact that there is a change occurring, and we have to be aware of that," says Col. Jeffrey Miller, PA State Police Commissioner.

The commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police says troopers don't plan to treat Mexican drivers any differently. But he is aware of concerns that drivers could smuggle in drugs and illegal immigrants, something troopers already search for during roadside inspections.

"And they do a great job of interdicting, contraband, weapons, wanted persons. That applies across the board, no matter if it’s an American company, a Mexican company, a Swedish... it doesn't really matter," adds Miller.

"First off, you have no idea whether they can even read the road signs here, and know what the laws are, or even pay attention," says Jim Karasz, Dallas, TX.

But those issues are also being addressed. Mexican truckers must speak enough English to understand signs and instructions and they must have insurance.

If the pilot program works more trucks could be allowed in next year.

For many the idea of sharing their road still seems very foreign.

"It shouldn't pose any problem, but if they're coming up here and thinking that they're still down in Mexico, down in the desert type places, and that can do as they please... then, yes, you're gonna have a lot more people killed!" says Priscila Walker, Harrisburg.

Mexican truck drivers will also be subject to inspections every 90 days. And they'll have to abide by the same laws as Americans, including how many hours they're allowed to be on the road without rest.

Just last week a group of state police troopers trained specifically to deal with the incoming Mexican trucks. They learned what Mexican driver's licenses and other documents look like, which will help them during traffic stops.
Copyright 2007 Clear Channel Broadcasting. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story.a ... 9f40692dda

The next victim by a Mexican driver could be you family member, by a truck weighing 60,000 lbs.

Please get involved here and lets stop these trucks!!! Check the link below for instructions!!

We need everyone working together to STOP this, there is power in Numbers we proved that on the amnesty bill, lets show them Ameicans are serious!!


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