Mexican drivers last week blocked the Nogales, Ariz., commercial crossing for three days to protest heavy fines.
According to published reports, Mexican truckers said they felt they were unjustly targeted by U.S. officers who began failing trucks on equipment inspections and charging stiff fines. Fines ran as high as $1,400 per violation.
Arizona Department of Public Safety officials said that there were more citations than normal because of new officers who were not used to working the border.
"We will continue to cite, but only for extremely flagrant violations," DPS spokesman Frank Valenzuela told the Associated Press. At the same time, however, he said, "Our main concern is public safety. We can't turn our heads to a violation that should be cited, just for better trade relations with Mexico." Valenzuela says the agency is working to educate truck drivers and growers from Mexico about the law.
U.S. produce distributors lost thousands of dollars in food stalled at the border during the blockade, which ended after the Mexican truckers met with U.S. enforcement agencies. Mexican truckers say they'll do it again if officials don't let up on the inspections.
Many opponents of the North American Free Trade Agreement are concerned that unsafe Mexican trucks will flood into this country. Last week, President Bush unveiled a budget proposal that includes $154 million to improve border truck safety inspections.
According to published reports, Mexican truckers said they felt they were unjustly targeted by U.S. officers who began failing trucks on equipment inspections and charging stiff fines. Fines ran as high as $1,400 per violation.
Arizona Department of Public Safety officials said that there were more citations than normal because of new officers who were not used to working the border.
"We will continue to cite, but only for extremely flagrant violations," DPS spokesman Frank Valenzuela told the Associated Press. At the same time, however, he said, "Our main concern is public safety. We can't turn our heads to a violation that should be cited, just for better trade relations with Mexico." Valenzuela says the agency is working to educate truck drivers and growers from Mexico about the law.
U.S. produce distributors lost thousands of dollars in food stalled at the border during the blockade, which ended after the Mexican truckers met with U.S. enforcement agencies. Mexican truckers say they'll do it again if officials don't let up on the inspections.
Many opponents of the North American Free Trade Agreement are concerned that unsafe Mexican trucks will flood into this country. Last week, President Bush unveiled a budget proposal that includes $154 million to improve border truck safety inspections.
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