FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 21, 2013

BISMARCK, N.D. - The North Dakota Highway Patrol and the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services will conduct an annual test of the AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert system. The test will be conducted from 2 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.  

All components of the AMBER Alert Plan will be tested. Advance notification is important to avoid misinterpretation of this test as an actual AMBER Alert. 

AMBER Alerts are recorded on the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s 511 Road and Weather Information System, displayed on the NDDOT roadside message signs, the nd.gov/amber website, and displayed on scrolling banners at North Dakota Lottery terminal sites. Five AMBER Alerts involving six children have been issued in North Dakota. Five of the six children were successfully recovered. Nationwide, AMBER Alert has been credited with the successful recovery of 642 children. 

The goal of the AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist in the search for and safe return of the abducted child. The AMBER Alert Plan is a voluntary partnership among law enforcement, state agencies, the National Weather Service and North Dakota Broadcasters Association to activate an urgent bulletin in child abduction cases meeting AMBER Alert activation criteria.  NDDES, in collaboration with the NWS, uses the Emergency Alert System to provide a description of the abducted child and suspected abductor to statewide radio and television broadcast stations which disseminate the information to the public.  Please register at wirelessamberalerts.org to receive text notifications of actual AMBER Alerts that occur in your area.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 13, 2013

Bismarck, N.D. - Troopers from across the state traveled to western North Dakota last week to participate in a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) enforcement saturation. The goal of the three-day effort was to identify and remove drivers from behind the wheel who were operating CMVs without proper training and/or licensing authority. The effort resulted in more than 100 citations being issued and 35 drivers being placed out of service for failing to have proper qualifications to drive the vehicle they were operating. The saturation occurred west of U.S. Highway 83 and north of Interstate 94.

Federal regulations divide commercial vehicles into groups, or classes, based upon vehicle size and type of load. Larger vehicles, multiple-connected vehicles, and certain types of load materials pose a more significant danger to the public. “We are finding that a majority of the violations stem from a lack of knowledge,” stated Sgt. Mitch Rumple. “The Highway Patrol encourages companies to ensure their drivers are properly qualified to operate commercial vehicles.”

The NDHP has noticed an increase in the number of CMVs being driven by operators who have not passed the necessary knowledge and skills tests for the class of vehicle they are operating. These violations occur more frequently in western North Dakota, as the demand for truck drivers is high. Please visit the North Dakota Department of Transportation Licensing and Registration website at http://www.dot.nd.gov/public/licensing.htm for more information about commercial driver’s license requirements.