(WWJ) – Michigan State Police and other neighboring state agencies are calling on truckers for their help as they crack down on human trafficking.
January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and authorities are partnering with the group Truckers Against Trafficking to educate motorists about the signs of human trafficking and to enforce laws that crack down on traffickers.
MSP Lt. Chris Keller tells WWJ they’re educating truckers on how to watch for signs of trafficking, including anything that looks odd or suspicious.
“They could look for something like a person, whether it be a woman, man, girl, boy, that could be moving from truck to truck in a truck stop but is also being followed by another vehicle, so it would lead you to believe they’re not acting alone, someone’s making them or watching them do that,” Keller said.
He says its better to call authorities and have them investigate and ultimately find out it's not trafficking than to not say anything and never know.
He says major corridor highways – such as I-75 and I-94 – are often hotspots for trafficking.
“We would be looking into areas that have the larger truck stops,” Keller says, “because that’s where truck drivers are going to see this, so that’s where we’re trying to get the most collaboration.”
Keller says those involved with TAT will put stickers on their trucks that have the National Human Trafficking Hotline number on them so those who may need the number can see it.
The goal of this week-long, multi-state human trafficking initiative is “to raise awareness and educate those individuals in positions to observe human trafficking taking place, such as commercial motor vehicle drivers, public transportation companies, rest area attendants, and truck stop employees,” MSP said.
The MSP first partnered with TAT in 2015 and has since been recognized as a national leader in human trafficking awareness and education.
For more information about TAT and how to spot possible signs of tracking, visit truckersagainsttrafficking.org.
To report suspected human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resources Center at 888-373-7888 or text BeFree to 233733.
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