Operation Safe Drive: 80 Hazardous Trucks Pulled Off Maine Roads Amid Safety Crackdown
January 19, 2026
The 80 unsafe trucks were removed from service to prevent potential breakdowns and crashes while authorities pursue further steps.
There is a related reference to Maine immigrant rights coalitions and CDL policies, but the current report does not provide driver identities or citizenship status in relation to the violations.
WGME reported the operation in the Portland, Maine area, noting the week leading up to January 18, 2026.
Maine State Police led a targeted commercial vehicle enforcement effort under Operation Safe Drive to boost highway safety, with participation in the federal DRIVE campaign over three days.
The initiative emphasizes proactive safety measures for commercial vehicles beyond routine policing.
The article notes a lack of information about the individuals operating the unsafe vehicles, despite broader national discussions not related to this incident.
Smart roadside technologies, including tire anomaly sensors, brake thermal imaging, and license plate readers, were used to identify and locate violations during inspections.
The program aims to prevent dangerous breakdowns and crashes by ensuring trucks meet safety standards and are properly maintained.
The operation sought to improve road safety by identifying and removing hazardous trucks from service.
One truck had 37 violations, including bald tires and missing brakes, illustrating the severity of some violations.
No additional context from the article about criminal investigations or unrelated topics was provided.
During inspections, 390 commercial trucks were examined and 80 at-risk vehicles were placed out of service due to imminent safety risks to the public, effectively removing them from the roads pending further action.
Summary based on 3 sources
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Sources

WGME • Jan 18, 2026
Maine State Police remove 80 unsafe trucks in safety operation
The Maine Wire • Jan 19, 2026
State Police Inspection Initiative Finds 80 Commercial Trucks Posing a Risk to the Public
92 Moose • Jan 19, 2026
80 Trucks Taken Out of Service in Maine Safety Crackdown