Federal Grant Will Help Michigan State Police Enhance Truck Safety at Borders

Sept. 29, 2004
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $2.45 million grant to the Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Division.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $2.45 million grant to the Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Division to enhance commercial motor vehicle safety and security at the state's international border crossings.

The two-year grant will be used to expand commercial vehicle enforcement efforts at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie, the tunnel connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario and the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry.

The money will allow the hiring of additional motor carrier officers assigned to international ports-of-entry, provide enhanced hazardous materials training to officers and help purchase communications and data management equipment.

The Motor Carrier Division will temporarily reassign officers to the ports-of-entry until additional personnel are hired and trained.

"This grant will enhance homeland security in Michigan," Col. Tadarial J. Sturdivant, director of the Michigan State Police, said in a statement dated Friday. "This additional funding will allow the Motor Carrier Division to better equip and deploy personnel to ensure the safety and security of the state's borders."