Nevada Puts the Brakes on Human Trafficking with Statewide Campaign Efforts
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Sat, 08/28/2021 - 10:03am
The Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS) Highway Patrol Division is furthering its mission to promote safety on Nevada’s highways with the launch of a new, statewide anti-human trafficking campaign across multiple platforms now through October 10.
Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), the Nevada Trucking Association (NTA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have combined efforts with the Nevada Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Division to educate commercial vehicle drivers on identifying the signs of human trafficking while positioning State Troopers as a resource to help human trafficking victims.
Human Trafficking is modern-day slavery, defined as when human beings are purchased and sold for forced labor or sexual exploitation. The UNLV Center for Crime and Justice Policy reported Nevada tied for ninth in the nation for human trafficking cases reported in 2017, with the state’s average of 89 percent exceeding the national average of 71 percent. Sex trafficking has steadily proved to be the most prominent form of human trafficking in Nevada, with 1,500 women and children in Northern Nevada alone sold online for sex every day (Creighton University).
Human trafficking is a heinous crime against humanity, and with our allied partners, we will work together to address it immediately,” said Nevada Highway Patrol Colonel Anne Carpenter. “The DPS Highway Patrol is grateful for our partners at Truckers Against Trafficking, Nevada Trucking Association and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in joining our fight here in Nevada. Together, we will be one step closer to protecting and saving the lives of human trafficking victims across the state.
These staggering statistics serve as the driving force behind the statewide combined efforts of the NV DPS Highway Patrol Division, TAT, NTA and FMCSA. The trucker-oriented campaign takes a victim-centered approach that educates and encourages commercial vehicle drivers to spot the signs of human trafficking; take action to report suspected trafficking; and be a part of the solution while positioning State Troopers as a resource for victims.
Campaign efforts will be focused in rural areas, on open highways, near truck stops and on state lines along Interstates 15, 95, 80, 395 and 160. Messaging will be amplified through PSAs on radio stations, social media outlets, including Facebook, outdoor billboards, and earned media efforts. For additional information and to follow along with the campaign, please visit https://nhp.nv.gov/
About Nevada DPS Highway Patrol
The Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS) Highway Patrol Division, headquartered in Carson City, was established to serve the citizens and visitors to the Silver State with regional command offices in Reno, Las Vegas, and Elko. With statewide jurisdiction, Troopers promote safety on Nevada’s highways by engaging and educating the community and providing law enforcement and traffic services to the motoring public. The department is dedicated to saving lives and operates with the goal of reducing deaths on Nevada’s roadways. Whether civilian or sworn, all personnel working at the Nevada DPS Highway Patrol are committed to ensuring our roadways remain safe.
