OCC Port of Entry Utilized for Special Emphasis by ICE and DPS to Safeguard Oklahoma Highways, Motorists

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) recognizes the danger to the driving public from big rig drivers who may be non-compliant with weight requirements and other regulations or statutes designed to reduce risk from improperly large commercial vehicles and inappropriately credentialed drivers.

As the trucking industry regulatory experts for Oklahoma, the agency embraces the importance of partnering with fellow law enforcement agencies to keep our residents, state and nation safe.

OCC welcomed visitors from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to share space at the Beckham County Port of Entry last week. A special enforcement emphasis and focus on, specifically, CDL drivers and commercial trucks licensed and registered in the state of California was conducted in conjunction with DPS Troop S and OCC.

A total of 130 commercial drivers were arrested and taken off the road for various violations as part of the three-day enforcement effort.

"Oklahomans deserve safe highways," said Corporation Commission Chair Kim David. "We appreciate the opportunity to assist ICE and DPS Troop S by removing non-compliant and dangerous drivers from our roads. By working together as law enforcement partners, we're reducing risks for every driver."

In Fiscal Year 2025, more than 5.6 million trucks (Class 5 or higher) entered Oklahoma on a highway intersecting one of its Ports of Entry (POE). In far western Oklahoma, almost 1.4 million trucks crossed the state border between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, at the Beckham County POE on eastbound I-40 which made it an obvious site for the three-day special enforcement emphasis.

Commissioner Todd Hiett said, "Our Ports of Entry may very well be the first stop commercial truck drivers make after crossing the state line. Our officers' professionalism, training and use of technology quickly assess each driver and rig to resolve permitting concerns, issue a ticket with an associated fine, or require the driver to pull over and submit to further inspection of their credentials or truck."

The officers manning OCC's five POEs have earned the respect of interstate Commercial Driver License (CDL) truckers as law enforcement professionals who staunchly enforce permitting, weight, licensing, insurance and other requirements that regulate the trucking industry. The use of cameras and software technology permits POE personnel to determine in seconds whether a trucker will be required to pull into the POE or remain mobile.

"There are legitimate concerns with illegal immigrants obtaining CDL's in other jurisdictions," said Commissioner Brian Bingman. "The inability to read road signs written in English will lead to accidents. This negligence creates risk for Oklahoma's drivers."

OCC's Transportation Division has been recognized nationally for its enforcement effort of International Fuel Tax Association (IFTA) requirements and International Registration Plan (IRP) agreements for appropriate mileage reporting, collection and disbursement of fuel tax revenue and apportionable registration fees to other states in compliance with those agreements.

Since OCC took over administration of the programs in 2004, Transportation Division audit staff have consistently received clean audit reports recognizing their commitment to accountability and the accuracy of their work. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), today, issued an interim final rule amending regulations for State Driver's Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) issuing commercial driving credentials to foreign-domiciled individuals. FMCSA states in its notice: "Through this interim final rule, FMSCA restores the integrity of the commercial driver's license (CDL) issuance processes by significantly limiting the authority for SDLAs to issue and renew non-domiciled commercial learner permits and CDLs to individuals domiciled in a foreign jurisdiction. This change strengthens the security of the CDL issuance process and enhances the safety of commercial motor vehicle operations."

- OCC -