A routine traffic stop on the Mackinac Bridge turned into something far bigger last Wednesday, when a motor-carrier officer pulled over a semi that was reportedly speeding and driving in a hazardous manner. Troopers who searched the trailer say they uncovered a large cache of weapons and other contraband, and the driver, a 54-year-old man from Texas, was taken into custody without incident. He was arraigned the next day and released on a personal recognizance bond, with a court date set for April 10.
Police said they seized multiple loaded firearms, edged weapons and self-defense items during the stop, including five loaded pistols, one loaded rifle, a shotgun, 15 double-edged knives, a double-edged sword and two sets of brass knuckles, and they found two open containers of alcohol in the cab, according to CBS Detroit. An inspection of the truck's records showed the electronic logging device records were falsified, and troopers said the driver did not have a concealed pistol license. Michigan State Police said they are seeking additional charges related to the vehicle and its records and noted that the agency was assisted by the Mackinac County Sheriff's Office and the St. Ignace Police Department.
Patrols and Bridge Rules
The Mackinac Bridge carries I-75 across the Straits of Mackinac and has specific rules for heavy, oversize and high-profile commercial vehicles that require staging and permits. Those constraints are a key reason motor-carrier officers regularly patrol the five-mile suspension span. The Mackinac Bridge Authority outlines driver and truck regulations that are designed to reduce hazards for vehicles crossing the bridge.
Legal and Regulatory Fallout
The driver was arraigned last Thursday in Mackinac County's 92nd District Court on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon and released on personal recognizance, with his next court date set for April 10, according to CBS Detroit. Falsifying or tampering with electronic logging device records can trigger civil penalties, out-of-service orders and other enforcement actions under federal hours-of-service rules, per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Prosecutors and troopers have not released the driver's name, and the investigation remains ongoing, with authorities saying they will seek additional charges as appropriate. State troopers said the case will return to Mackinac County court on April 10. The stop has drawn attention both for the volume of weapons recovered and for the falsified commercial records investigators say they uncovered.
