8-26-2025 9:34pm

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler Responds to Florida Truck Accident

Chris Edwards Editor

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler Responds to Florida Truck Accident - AlamogordoTownNews.org

The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) has been drawn into the discussion surrounding a fatal Florida truck accident because the driver, Harjinder Singh, had been stopped by NMSP officers just weeks before the fatal crash. After the deadly August 12, 2025, crash on Florida's Turnpike that killed three people, questions arose about Singh's English-language proficiency and how he obtained a commercial driver's license (CDL).

The NMSP released body camera video showing Singh's interaction with an officer during a July 3 traffic stop. According to NMSP Chief Troy Weisler, the video shows Singh speaking English to the officer without any issues.

The stop became controversial because federal regulations requiring an English Language Proficiency (ELP) test for commercial drivers went into effect on June 25, 2025. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) claimed that the NMSP did not administer an ELP test during the stop, even though New Mexico had not yet implemented ELP enforcement.

Administration leaders with the USDOT have made the incident political and tried to placed some blame on the NMSP for not administering an ELP test, a charge the NMSP disputes based on its officers' assessment of Singh's English proficiency.

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler on Tuesday said federal officials have mischaracterized New Mexico’s Commercial Driver’s License policy and compliance with federal law related to English Language Proficiency (ELP) testing.

The chief’s comments are in response to questions surrounding a July 3, 2025, traffic stop in which an NMSP officer cited commercial truck driver Harjinder Singh for a speeding violation. Singh was later involved in a high-profile crash in Florida that left three dead.

On June 25, 2025, new federal guidelines regarding the ELP testing for commercial motor vehicle drivers went into effect. While general guidelines were issued, no standardized testing procedure was provided. When State Police sought clarification, the response received was simply, “You know when somebody doesn’t speak English.”

Prior to June 25, 2025, NMSP asked several times if additional standardized guidance would be forthcoming and were told there would not be. As a result, New Mexico developed its own process to comply with the new requirements.

“This process required careful review and statewide training for our personnel to ensure consistent and fair application” Weisler said. “It was critical that we implement this correctly, both to comply with federal law and to reduce the risk of litigation, as has occurred in other states such as Florida.

“Contrary to statements made at the US Department of Transportation’s press conference this morning by Secretary Duffy, we kept the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) field division in New Mexico informed of our progress with updates on July 24 and again on August 12, 2025,” Weisler said. “This was all prior to our agency becoming aware of the tragic crash that occurred in Florida.”

New Mexico had a set timeline for implementation and continues to plan to meet that timeline by initiating enforcement of ELP requirements on September 1, 2025.

Regarding the July 3, 2025, traffic stop of Mr. Singh: even if ELP testing had already been in effect, no assessment would have been conducted in this case. Both the Federal guidelines and today’s statements by the U.S. Department of Transportation make clear that ELP assessments are only required when there is a challenge in communication. As the video of the traffic stop demonstrates, there were no communication issues between Mr. Singh and the officer. Therefore, there would have been no reason to initiate an ELP assessment.

Additionally, it is important to note that there is no easily accessible way for us to know if a driver has been placed out of service for a previous violation. No automatic alert exists, and such information could only be obtained by manually reviewing numerous documents, something that is neither feasible nor realistic for an officer to do on the side of the road during a traffic stop. To learn more about a driver or their company, an officer must access a specific database and review inspection records from across the nation.

The “flashing red light” Secretary Duffy mentioned merely reflects a company’s overall safety score and is not tied to an individual driver’s record.

“The tragic loss of life recently suffered by the people of Florida serves as a painful reminder of why these regulations matter,” Weisler said. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families and communities affected by this tragedy. Ensuring the safety of all who travel on our nation’s roadways remains our highest priority, and we are committed to applying these requirements with the seriousness and consistency they demand.”

The New Mexico State Police will continue to work closely with our federal partners to provide clarity, accountability, and consistency in the application of English Language Proficiency testing. Our mission has always been, and will continue to be, safeguarding the people of New Mexico and all those who travel through our state.

To view the full video of the traffic stop, click here: https://youtu.be/gF2dI1iBIE8?si=ihxKK1q364mc4eNi