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New York Launches Week-Long Crackdown on Fake License Plates, Aggressive Driving, and Move Over Violations — Operation Plate Check Runs May 2-9

By
Kristina
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NEW YORK — Governor Kathy Hochul announced Friday that New York State Police and partner agencies have launched Operation Plate Check, a week-long enforcement detail running from Saturday, May 2 through Saturday, May 9, targeting fraudulent license plates, aggressive driving, and Move Over Law violations statewide.

Participating agencies include the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, the New York State Thruway Authority, and local law enforcement across the state.

The operation comes in response to a growing trend of drivers using fictitious license plates and fraudulent temporary paper tags to avoid toll cameras, license plate readers, and law enforcement. Troopers will conduct extra patrols and joint enforcement details with DMV and local agencies to identify and cite offenders.

“Drivers who are using fake or altered license plates to avoid tolls or law enforcement are on notice — we do not take this crime lightly and you will be held accountable,” Hochul said. “This enforcement period is about safety and ensuring that those who are using our highways, bridges and tunnels are paying their fair share.”

NYSP Superintendent Steven G. James added: “Altering, concealing or using fake or fraudulent license plates is a deliberate attempt to evade responsibilities on our roadways. These violations are not just about avoiding tolls, they can hinder law enforcement and put the public safety at risk.”

Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare noted the financial stakes for the state’s highway system. “The New York State Thruway is a user-fee-supported system, with toll revenue accounting for approximately 90 percent of the resources needed to operate, maintain and improve our 570-mile superhighway. Operation Plate Check is about educating drivers and ensuring everyone who travels the Thruway pays their fair share,” Hoare said.

Last Year’s Results

During the 2025 Operation Plate Check, NYSP issued 3,308 tickets for license plate violations — a 250% increase from 945 tickets issued in 2024. Tickets for suspended registrations increased 57%, from 53 in 2024 to 83 in 2025. The operation also resulted in the recovery of 14 stolen vehicles.

Motorists with peeling or damaged license plates are encouraged to visit the DMV website for instructions on obtaining replacement plates.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.

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California Maximum Enforcement Period Results: Nearly 12,000 Speeding Citations Issued, 200 Drivers Caught Topping 100 MPH

By
Kristina
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12,000 Speeding Citations Issued

CALIFORNIA — California Highway Patrol officers issued 11,767 speeding citations during this week’s Maximum Enforcement Period, including 200 drivers caught traveling over 100 mph.

CHP used the numbers to reinforce the dangers of excessive speed. “Speed isn’t just a violation — it’s one of the leading factors in serious and fatal crashes. Every one of those contacts represents a situation that could have ended in tragedy,” the agency said. “When speed increases, so does the risk of losing control, reducing reaction time, and turning a mistake into a life-altering crash.”

CHP is urging all drivers to obey posted speed limits, adjust speed for road and weather conditions, and stay focused behind the wheel.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.

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Autonomous Truck Completes Overnight Houston-to-Dallas Commercial Run With No Human Driver or Remote Operator — Bot Auto Says Cost Per Mile Is $1.89 vs Industry Average of $2.26 

By
Kristina
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HOUSTON, TEXAS — A Bot Auto autonomous tractor-trailer completed a 231-mile commercial freight run from Houston to Dallas overnight on April 29, 2026, with no safety driver, no remote operator, and no in-cab observer — marking what the company describes as a fully humanless commercial trucking operation on public roads.

The truck departed Riggy’s Truck Parking in northeast Houston at 1:16 a.m. CT and arrived at Safe Stop in Hutchins, just south of Dallas, at 4:57 a.m. CT — completing the run in under four hours and meeting the shipper’s tight delivery window. The northbound Interstate 45 lane was booked through Ryan Transportation, a third-party logistics provider ranked No. 19 on the 2025 Transport Topics Top 100 Freight Brokerage list.

“People told me autonomous trucking commercialization still had a long way to go. This load is my answer,” said Dr. Xiaodi Hou, founder and CEO of Bot Auto. “We did not build a demonstration, we built a business: commercial freight, on public roads, with no human in the cab or remote driving, operating between third-party logistics hubs, and most importantly, making money on every mile. Houston to Dallas is mile one.”

Bot Auto

Why This Route

The run was designed to address a shipper’s need for tight delivery windows and service consistency, including overnight transit — the kind of freight traditional capacity often struggles to cover. Most human drivers prefer to operate during daylight hours, making nighttime-only drivers a scarce and expensive commodity. Autonomous trucks operate without fatigue, hours-of-service limits, or the scheduling constraints that cause missed pickup and delivery windows.

The Economics

Bot Auto shared the cost breakdown behind its operations. The company’s humanless cost per mile is $1.89, compared with the industry average of approximately $2.26 per mile according to the American Transportation Research Institute. Adding a human driver to Bot Auto’s operation raises that figure to $3.78 per mile.

What the Broker Said

“At Ryan Transportation, we’re constantly evaluating new solutions that enhance service, safety and reliability for our shipper partners,” said Jeff Henderson, senior vice president at Ryan Transportation. “Forming this partnership is a strategic decision based on Bot Auto’s proven technology and the role autonomous trucking will play long-term in logistics. It will strengthen our ability to provide dependable, high-frequency capacity on time-sensitive freight while maintaining the operational standards our customers expect.”

Independent Observation

Autonomous vehicle analyst Grayson Brulte observed the entire operation firsthand from pickup through delivery. “What I saw on the roads in Texas was not a test. It was an autonomous commercial operation designed to scale and reduce downtime,” Brulte said. “Bot Auto is not doing a pilot, they are building a commercial trucking business powered by autonomy, free from the inconsistencies that are all too common in traditional trucking.”

The Company

Bot Auto was founded in Houston in 2023 and reached commercial humanless operation in under three years. The company operates with 80 employees, a fleet of 12 tractors, more than 25 contracted customers, and $40 million in capital raised. Bot Auto runs its own tractors under a Transportation as a Service model rather than licensing hardware and software to outside fleets. Its autonomous driving system incorporates multiple safety layers with fallback protections for every potential failure point. The company has partnered with local and state law enforcement, briefing officers on interacting with autonomous vehicles and providing a First Responder Guide for emergency protocols.

Bot Auto is expanding its operating network and deepening its partnership with Ryan Transportation, aiming to prove load by load that humanless trucking is a repeatable commercial service.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.

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Texas Truck Driver Loses Control on Curve and Overturns Tractor-Trailer Loaded With Plate Glass Into Ditch in Ontario County

By
Kristina
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ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK — A Texas truck driver sustained minor injuries Friday morning after losing control on a curve and overturning his tractor-trailer loaded with plate glass on State Route 14A in the Town of Seneca, shutting down the roadway for several hours.

The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office responded at approximately 7:24 a.m. to the area of State Route 14A and Lake to Lake Road. Investigators determined Philip Ashi, 53, of Houston, Texas, was traveling northbound when he lost control while navigating a curve. The truck and trailer overturned and slid into a ditch along the north shoulder, damaging both the vehicle and its cargo of plate glass.

Stanley Fire Department and Stanley Ambulance crews treated Ashi at the scene for minor arm injuries. The roadway closed while crews worked to remove the truck and clean up the debris. It reopened around noon.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.

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Semi Hauling Liquid Hydrogen Overturns on I-5 Near Patterson — Unrestrained Passenger in Sleeper Berth Airlifted With Major Injuries; Gas Smell Closes Both Directions for Hours

By
Kristina
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PATTERSON, CALIFORNIA — Interstate 5 closed in both directions Friday morning after a semi-truck hauling a trailer filled with refrigerated liquid hydrogen overturned near Patterson, injuring two people including an unrestrained passenger who was airlifted to a hospital with major injuries.

The California Highway Patrol said the crash happened shortly before 10 a.m. just north of Sperry Avenue. Officers determined the semi driver veered left for unknown reasons and traveled into the median. When he attempted to regain control, the truck overturned onto its side.

The driver, a 58-year-old man from Fillmore, sustained minor injuries and was taken to a medical center. A 43-year-old man from Bakersfield was unrestrained inside the sleeper berth at the time of the crash and suffered major injuries. He was airlifted to a hospital. DUI does not appear to be a factor.

Witnesses reported smelling leaking gas, prompting officials to close I-5 in both directions as a precaution due to the liquid hydrogen cargo. By 1:30 p.m. the scene was determined to be safe and southbound I-5 reopened. Northbound lanes reopened at approximately 4:30 p.m.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.

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Massachusetts Authorities Identify Truck Driver Killed in I-95 Rollover as 61-Year-Old Father of Nine and ‘Heartbeat’ of His Trucking Company

By
Kristina
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DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS — The tractor-trailer driver killed in a rollover crash on Interstate 95 near Danvers Monday morning has been identified as Justin Obert, 61, of Plymouth — a father of nine and longtime driver for Tasha Trucking & Propane in Harwich.

The crash occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. on April 28 when Obert’s Peterbilt tractor and a Honda Pilot were involved in a collision on I-95 near the Danvers and Peabody line. Both vehicles left the roadway. The tractor-trailer rolled and struck a guardrail. Both occupants of the Honda declined medical attention. Obert was declared dead at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police and the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The Essex County District Attorney’s Office is overseeing the investigation.

Remembered by His Company and Community

Tasha Trucking & Propane described Obert as irreplaceable. “He was the very heartbeat and pulse of this company. He embodied all the qualities of what it truly meant to be a company man. He earned the respect of his peers in the trucking industry and his coworkers as one of the nicest guys that would do just about anything for anyone,” the company said. Obert was described as a true family man who set out each day to provide for his wife and children.

A GoFundMe launched to help his family with funeral costs and living expenses raised nearly $119,000 as of Friday. “Justin was more than just a truck driver — he was the backbone of his family and a familiar, respected face throughout the New England community. His work ethic was unmatched, and his dedication never went unnoticed by those who knew him. To his family, he was everything — a loving husband, a devoted father, a doting grandfather, and someone who always showed up when it mattered most,” the fundraiser reads.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.

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Semi Driver Arrested for Extreme DUI After Crashing Into Guardrail on I-40; No Braking or Evasive Action Reported, BAC .174

By
Kristina
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0

BELLEMONT, ARIZONA — A commercial truck driver was arrested for extreme DUI after a big rig crashed into a guardrail on Interstate 40 near Hughes Avenue, according to Arizona Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol troopers.

Troopers responded on May 1 to a reported collision involving a commercial motor vehicle in the Bellemont area. The crash was initially reported as a possible injury collision, but officials said the driver was not hurt.

AZDPS

Troopers Reported No Skid Marks or Evasive Action

When troopers arrived, they found that the semi-truck had collided with a guardrail.

Investigators said they did not see skid marks or signs that the driver had taken evasive action to avoid the crash.

As troopers approached the driver, they observed several signs of impairment. The driver then submitted to field sobriety tests, which showed further signs of impairment.

Breath Test Showed .174 BAC

A preliminary breath test showed the driver had a blood alcohol concentration of .174, according to officials.

Troopers said that was more than four times the legal limit for operating a commercial vehicle.

The driver was arrested for extreme DUI and transported for booking.

DPS Warns CDL Drivers About DUI Risks

Arizona troopers described the crash as a “big rig and a bigger mistake” and reminded commercial drivers that DUI behind the wheel of a large truck can create a serious risk for everyone on the road.

Officials said CDL drivers who get a DUI can jeopardize their commercial license, their livelihood, and the safety of the public.

“DUIs are a risk, and driving a large commercial vehicle is a risk. A DUI in a commercial vehicle is a recipe for potential disaster,” troopers said.

Authorities urged drivers to save drinking for when they are off the road and completely off the clock.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.

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California DMV Approves Testing of Heavy-Duty Driverless Semi-Trucks on State Roads, as Debate Grows Over Jobs and Safety

By
Kristina
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0

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — Heavy-duty autonomous vehicles, including semi-trucks, have been approved for testing on California roads by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, drawing support from some in the trucking industry and strong criticism from labor groups.

The decision opens the door for driverless heavy-duty truck testing in California, including freight operations involving semi-trucks.

Port Business Owner Supports Autonomous Truck Testing

William Hall, owner of Coyote Container at the Port of Oakland, said he supports the move and believes technology can create more opportunities.

“I believe in technology providing more jobs for all of us, so I think it’s a good thing with trucking,” Hall said.

Hall said trucking companies often struggle with finding and keeping drivers, along with keeping them safe on the road.

“You ask any trucking company what their biggest problem is, it’s usually the drivers. It’s finding drivers, it’s keeping drivers and it’s keeping them safe and keeping them out of accidents. Those things are all, with automated trucks and driverless trucks, are easier to deal with,” Hall said.

Teamsters Push Back Against DMV Decision

Teamsters California criticized the DMV’s decision and said it plans to fight the approval.

“Make no mistake: this is just the beginning of Teamsters California’s fight for good jobs and safety on our roads,” the organization said in a statement.

The group called the decision reckless and said it may take legal action.

“The DMV’s decision to rush forward with driverless heavy-duty trucks is reckless, and we will use every tool necessary to stop it – including taking this fight to the courts,” Teamsters California said.

Aurora Points to Future Freight Deployment

Aurora, a Silicon Valley-based autonomous vehicle company, has been testing self-driving trucks in Texas since last year.

On Thursday, a leading carrier announced plans to own 500 of Aurora’s trucks. A report commissioned by Aurora projected that 170,000 self-driving trucks could be operating on U.S. roads by 2035, representing 15% of the trucking market.

Sydnee Journel, senior manager of government relations at Aurora, said the company sees California’s move as a step toward autonomous freight deployment.

“We are encouraged to see a regulatory path being established for autonomous freight in California and look forward to working with lawmakers on the safe deployment of autonomous trucking across the state,” Journel said.

Jobs and Safety Remain Central Questions

UC Berkeley Professor Scott Moura, acting director of the university’s Institute of Transportation Studies, said autonomous trucks could operate around the clock because they do not need rest breaks like human drivers.

“Clearly, though, there’s drawbacks right,” Moura said. “These are often well-paying jobs by skilled labor.”

The approval is expected to keep debate active among regulators, trucking companies, labor groups, and safety advocates as California moves toward testing driverless heavy-duty trucks on public roads.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.

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Tractor-Trailer Trapped by Street Tree Branch Wedged Between Cab and Trailer in Shillington — Tree Service Crew Free Truck

By
Kristina
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0

SHILLINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA — A tractor-trailer became wedged against a downed tree branch in Shillington, prompting an unusual emergency call that required a tree service crew to free the truck and reopen the roadway.

Courtesy: Clean Cut

Shillington Fire Department contacted Clean Cut tree service for a consultation after a branch from a street tree was knocked down and became lodged between the truck’s cab and trailer. Clean Cut crews responded and worked alongside the trucking company, Shillington Borough, and the fire department to safely remove the branch without causing additional damage to the truck. The roadway was reopened following the extraction.

Clean Cut said it remains committed to 24/7/365 emergency service response.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.

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Unsecured Utility Lids From Flatbed Semi Strike Over 18 Vehicles on I-5 in Washington; Driver Cited and Taken Out of Service

By
Kristina
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0
Unsecured Utility Lids From Flatbed Semi Strike Over 18 Vehicles

LAKEWOOD, WASHINGTON — More than 18 vehicles were damaged Friday morning after unsecured debris fell from a flatbed semi-truck on southbound Interstate 5 near State Route 512, according to Washington State Patrol.

The incident happened just before 7 a.m. between 72nd Street and SR 512 near Lakewood. Officials said the flatbed semi lost several utility lids onto the roadway.

Vehicles Damaged by Roadway Debris

Washington State Department of Transportation said no lanes were blocked, but the debris caused damage to multiple vehicles traveling through the area.

At least a dozen vehicles suffered flat tires after striking the debris. No injuries were reported.

Driver Cited, Truck Taken Out of Service

Washington State Patrol said the semi driver was cited for having an unsecured load.

The driver was also taken out of service following the incident.

Drivers in the area were told to expect delays as crews and troopers responded.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.

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