Massachusetts State Police and Rhode Island State Police Conduct Joint Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Operation

On Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Massachusetts State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section (CVES) partnered with the Rhode Island State Police Commercial Enforcement Unit to conduct a large-scale commercial motor vehicle enforcement operation along Route 146 at the Massachusetts-Rhode Island state line.

The joint operation focused on promoting highway safety through coordinated enforcement of federal commercial motor vehicle regulations governing interstate commerce.

More than 27 federally certified commercial vehicle inspectors from both agencies worked together during the 12-hour operation. By combining personnel, specialized equipment, and expertise, inspectors conducted comprehensive commercial vehicle inspections while maximizing enforcement efforts throughout the day.

The operation utilized several advanced enforcement tools and technologies, including portable axle scales for weight and size enforcement, a Performance-Based Brake Tester (PBBT) to evaluate braking performance without disassembly, hazardous materials inspections, oversize and overweight enforcement, and full North American Standard commercial vehicle inspections.

During the operation, inspectors completed 126 North American Standard inspections, identifying 212 federal and state violations. As a result, 30 commercial vehicles and 20 commercial drivers were placed out of service after inspectors discovered violations that posed an immediate threat to public safety.

Inspectors also visually screened or weighed 949 commercial vehicles, resulting in three weight enforcement violations and $16,079 in enforcement fines.

Significant enforcement actions included:

• Removing multiple commercial vehicles from service for serious brake and mechanical defects.

• Placing drivers out of service for medical certification violations, operating without the proper commercial driver's license (CDL), operating outside CDL restrictions, and electronic logging device (ELD) violations.

• Identifying hazardous materials violations during federally regulated transportation inspections.

• Assisting with a criminal investigation involving a suspicious commercial vehicle.

• Making arrests, towing vehicles, and taking numerous additional enforcement actions that directly enhanced roadway safety.

This operation demonstrated the value of regional partnerships between neighboring state law enforcement agencies. By sharing personnel, specialized equipment, and enforcement resources, the Massachusetts State Police and Rhode Island State Police expanded their enforcement capabilities while maintaining a coordinated approach to commercial motor vehicle safety.

The Massachusetts State Police and Rhode Island State Police remain committed to future joint enforcement operations that improve commercial motor vehicle safety, promote compliance with federal regulations, and help ensure safer roadways throughout New England.