Florida Intensifies Crackdown on Undocumented Truck Drivers
Florida legislators are focusing on what they call a growing threat to road safety. They claim that drivers of commercial trucks who are in the state illegally are part of the problem. Following a fatal accident last year involving such a driver, the state aims to fine the companies that hire them. However, fines are not the only planned measure.
On Tuesday, the Senate Transportation Committee voted 6–3 to advance Senate Bill 86. This proposal aims to address what its supporters describe as an immediate threat to public safety on the state’s highways. It would require law enforcement to detain undocumented truck drivers and coordinate their transfer to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Penalty Targeting Employers
In addition to the detention and transfer requirements, the bill would mandate the confiscation of any truck driven by an undocumented driver and impose a $50,000 fine on the vehicle’s owner. In other words, a company would not only have to pay a significant fine but also lose an employee and the truck in the process.
The goal of the bill is to remove immediate threats from our highways, as well as to deter and punish those who use illegal aliens to operate commercial motor vehicles on Florida’s roads.
A parallel House bill, HB 1247, was filed by Representative Jason Shoaf, indicating coordinated efforts to advance the proposal through both chambers during the 2026 legislative session.
ICE Authority on the Highway
If the bill is approved and signed, SB 86 would significantly expand the role of local law enforcement in combating immigration violations in the trucking sector. This is all the more striking given that Florida already allows state troopers to act as ICE agents. At the same time, it would place new obligations on both fleet owners and independent carriers.
Tragedy as a Catalyst for Action
The proposal was drafted in response to an August crash in St. Lucie County that killed three people. Law enforcement alleges that the truck driver, Hardjinder Singh, a native of India, attempted to make a U-turn on the Florida Turnpike, causing a fatal collision with several cars. Singh was arrested and faces multiple charges related to the crash.
This bill fits into the broader context of strict immigration initiatives being implemented in some states. The emphasis on road safety allows its proponents to justify tough measures, while critics may view it as another complication for an industry already facing a driver shortage. The effectiveness of such severe financial and administrative sanctions in actually improving safety, as opposed to merely shifting liability, will remain a subject of public debate and potential legal challenges. The implications for supply chains and the state’s economy also require careful assessment.