A package of anti-terrorism measures passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives would target trucking security by requiring truck drivers hauling hazardous materials to be fingerprinted
and creating a new, high-level security position in the state Department of Transportation.
The Associated Press reports that initially, the measure would have required anyone holding a commercial driver's license to be fingerprinted. Several representatives said that went too far, noting that it would require bus drivers and others unlikely to commit a terrorist act to submit to fingerprinting.
The bill as amended to restrict the fingerprinting measure to only hazmat drivers passed easily, according to the AP.
Other security bills passed Monday include one that would prevent the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation from issuing driver's licenses to non-residents. Another would make it a third-degree felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison and fines of up to $15,000, for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation employees to issue a fraudulent driver's license.
Last month, Pennsylvania officials filed charges against 56 suspects who allegedly participated in a scam where fraudulent driver licenses were allegedly issued in exchange for bribes. That was in addition to federal charges filed alleging 19 fraudulent commercial driver's licenses were sold.
In addition, a new deputy secretary for transportation security would have the authority to improve the security at trucking terminals, toll roads, bridges and other parts of the transportation infrastructure.
The measures now go to the state Senate for consideration.