The Tennessee General Assembly moved forward with a bill that would require law enforcement officers to issue out-of-service orders to commercial drivers who are “non-English proficient,” according to a release from State Representative Lowell Russell.
House Bill 1817, sponsored by Russell, explains that the move is meant to ensure public safety on major roadways where these drivers normally operate. If drivers cannot read, speak, or effectively communicate in English with other members of the public, an out-of-service order may be considered. Some of the key areas the bill discusses include being able to read and understand traffic signs and signals, as well as responding to roadway inquiries from law enforcement and other related agencies.
“These drivers are responsible for operating vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds at highway speeds and they must be able to read road signs and communicate effectively,” Russell said in his release. “This bill ensures Tennessee law enforcement can take immediate action when a driver cannot meet that standard and protect everyone on the road.”
If a driver is issued an out-of-service order, their CDL would then be suspended until they are able to pass the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s CDL test. The test would be given in English.
The state regulation follows discussion and implementation of an executive order at the federal level, in which enforcement surrounding English proficiency was a key highlight. The move also comes after several incidents of non-English proficient drivers being involved in fatal truck crashes or have been seen violating basic roadway procedure. Russell’s release cites two of the instances, including a crash involving an undocumented immigrant truck driver that resulted in the deaths of four people.
“Not only was Bekzhan Beishekeev released into our country by the Biden administration using the CBP One app, but he was also given a commercial driver’s license by Governor Shapiro’s Pennsylvania. These decisions have had deadly consequences and led to the death of four innocent people in Indiana on Tuesday,” said former Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a release regarding the incident. “It is incredibly dangerous for illegal aliens, who often don’t know our traffic laws or even English, to be operating semi-trucks on America’s roads. These sanctuary governor’s must stop giving illegal aliens commercial driver’s licenses before another American gets killed.”
“House Bill 1817 is also in response to concerns from constituents and local law enforcement following commercial vehicle crashes on State Route 68 across Coker Creek Mountain where the drivers reportedly could not read road signs,” Russell said.
The bill is now set to hit the desk of Governor Bill Lee, awaiting his signature in the coming days.
