ICE Could Take The Driver, And Now Florida Wants The Truck Too

Florida lawmakers are zeroing in on what they describe as a growing threat to highway safety. They argue that undocumented commercial truck drivers are part of the problem. Following a deadly crash last year involving one such driver, the state is moving to fine companies that employ them. That’s not the only penalty being considered.

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On Tuesday, the Senate Transportation Committee voted 6–3 to advance Senate Bill 86. The proposal intends to address what supporters describe as an immediate public-safety risk on the state’s highways. It would mandate that law-enforcement officers take undocumented truck drivers into custody and coordinate their transfer to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

A Fine Aimed at Employers

In addition to detention and transfer requirements, the bill would require impounding any truck operated by an undocumented driver and impose a $50,000 fine on the vehicle’s owner. In other words, the company would not only have to pay a hefty fine, but they’d also lose an employee and a truck in the process.

Lawmakers backing the measure argue that the financial penalty is aimed at discouraging trucking companies from employing drivers without legal authorization. “The purpose of the bill is to remove imminent hazards from our highways and to discourage and penalize those who would use illegals to operate a commercial vehicle on Florida roads,” said bill sponsor Sen. Don Gaetz to CBS.

A House companion bill, HB 1247, has been filed by Rep. Jason Shoaf, signaling coordinated efforts to move the proposal through both chambers during the 2026 legislative session.

ICE Authority on the Highway

If approved and signed into law, SB 86 would significantly expand the role of local law enforcement in immigration-related trucking enforcement. That’s impressive considering that Florida already allows State Troopers to act as ICE agents. At the same time, it would place new liabilities on fleet owners and independent operators alike.

The proposal was drafted in response to an August crash in St. Lucie County that killed three people. Authorities allege that Harjinder Singh, a truck driver and native of India, attempted a U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike, triggering a fatal collision involving multiple vehicles. Singh was later arrested and is facing several charges related to the crash.