'Operation ALERT' on 985 targets unsafe vehicles

GAINESVILLE - The Hall County Sheriff's Office Friday released detailed information about the law enforcement activity that took place for several hours Thursday night on I-985 near Oakwood.

Capt. Jeff Strickland says that at 6:00 officers from several local, state and federal agencies conducted a Commercial Vehicle safety checkpoint on I-985 at the northbound Welcome Center.

Capt. Strickland says the purpose of the operation was to assist the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety in inspecting and removing unsafe commercial vehicles from Georgia highways until they are repaired and again deemed roadworthy. The aim was to try to reduce the number of serious injury and fatality accidents involving commercial vehicles, according to Strickland.

Agencies involved in the operation included: Hall County Sheriff's Office Traffic Enforcement Unit, Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, Hall County Sheriff's Office Gang Task Force,Hall County Sheriff's Office Multi-Agency Narcotic Squad, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia National Guard, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Department of Corrections K-9 Units, U.S. Customs Office,and U.S. Marshals Fugitive Squad.

Strickland said the operation concluded about midnight after more than 450 commercial vehicles had been checked, with the following results:

·15 Safety Inspections
·41 Safety Violations Issued
·15 Out of Service Violations
·12 Searches
·14 Traffic Citations Issued
·33 Warnings
·5 Custodial Charges/Arrests (for an outstanding warrant, possession of marijuana, no driver's license, driving on a suspended license, and forgery in the first degree.