CAPTAIN TOMMY BIBB OF THE MARION COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ALSO ATTENDING

Washington, Oct 26, 2009 - Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala) is meeting today at 3:00PM with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Ray LaHood, to discuss cargo security. In addition, Captain Tommy Bill, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, is attending the meeting along with representatives of the trucking, insurance, and retail industries. Cargo security is a serious national security issued as well as a significant law enforcement concern as cargo theft costs consumers as much as $30 billion a year.

Stearns developed legislation, the Cargo Theft Prevention Act, to increase criminal penalties for cargo theft and to direct the federal government to track and report on incidents of cargo theft. The provisions of Stearns’ bill were signed into law as part of the Patriot Act Reauthorization. Marion County Sheriff Ed Dean and Captain Bibb brought state and national attention to the seriousness of cargo theft and created the Florida Statewide Commercial Vehicle and Cargo Theft Task Force.