The Detroit Police Department is seeking $1.9 million in new funding to create a citywide truck traffic enforcement unit.
Officer Drew Battersby made presentations to Mayor Mary Sheffield and the City Council aimed at securing funding in the upcoming 2026-27 budget. He said fees generated from commercial freight trucks would cover the cost of hiring six officers in the first year and generate between $5.4 million and $13.5 million for the city over five years.
Sheffield declined to say whether funding for the proposed unit would be included in the budget plan she will release on March 9.
City Council members expressed support for the concept, especially if fees could improve roads damaged by semi-trucks, but worry it may be difficult to find $1.9 million to fund the unit if Sheffield doesn’t include it in her budget recommendation.
District 6 Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero said hiring more police would help enforce new regulations to keep commercial freight trucks out of residential neighborhoods in Southwest Detroit.
City Freight Specialist Augusta Gudeman said commercial trucks are degrading the city’s roads, and fee revenue could also “make a major difference” to install speed humps, upgrade intersections and make streets safer.
Residents named semi-truck pollution, stronger trucking regulations and expanded enforcement as budget priorities in budget forums hosted earlier this year by the Department of Neighborhoods. District 6 residents in particular said existing “No Truck” street signs are failing to prevent frequent violations.
“My hope is that we see it in the proposed budget, that we don’t have to worry about moving money around, and that after the first year of implementation it can fund itself,” Santiago-Romero said on Tuesday.
Battersby said some residential streets in Detroit average 1,000 trucks per day. That’s alarming, he said, especially since the city is expecting to see the daily average of trucks passing through it increase from 18,000 to 20,000 when a new international bridge crossing opens.
“The problem I don’t think a lot of people are aware of is, currently the hazmat trucks have to drive an hour past Detroit to go to the Blue Water Bridge because of the hazardous approvals they have and that’s going to change — the Gordie Howe (International) Bridge is going to accept those trucks,” Battersby said. “They’re going to end up in our city.”
Battersby said the proposed unit would also enforce traffic laws. Three officers in clearly-identified vehicles would be assigned to the west side of the city and three on the east side. The unit would reduce crashes with reckless motor carrier trucks.
Detroit lacks a citywide ordinance to limit truck movement, but prohibits commercial trucks from parking on residential streets. District 7 Council Member Denzel McCampbell said his constituents have voiced concerns about trucks idling overnight and affecting the air quality.
Santaigo-Romero spearheaded the effort to redirect trucks contributing to health and safety issues in Southwest Detroit. Truck traffic was restricted on residential streets and limited in key corridors. The city also launched a platform to report trucking issues.
“It’s made a huge difference,” Santiago-Romero said of the new regulations in Southwest Detroit. “We’ve reduced (trucks on residential streets) about 70% but we still have hundreds of trucks. That’s still too many. We promised residents a reduction of trucks completely and we’re not there yet.”
Santiago-Romero said it’s vital to ensure the new rules are enforced, but also consider whether fees could be reinvested into roads being destroyed by trucks. She said the unit could help protect against hazardous material spills from trucks crossing the Ambassador Bridge.
Battersby said Michigan State Police can only enforce highway traffic and spreads 12 motor carrier truck officers across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Citizen complaints about trucks in Detroit increased 90% in the last five years, he said.
Dearborn, Taylor, Redford and Livonia all have truck enforcement units that are generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. Battersby said a Detroit unit would work in concert with other cities to police trucks that cross several jurisdictions.
Overheard in CAYMC
Here’s a look at other notable pieces of news:
Community violence activists are asking the council to shut down late-night establishments after the murder of restaurateur Michael Brown last weekend.
New Era Detroit Founder Zeek Williams said residents are tired of clubs being open until 5 a.m., prompting a pledge from Council Member Angela Whitfield-Calloway to action. Michigan law allows for extended hours permits that allow businesses to stay open from 2:30 a.m. to 7 a.m., but alcohol sales must stop at 2 a.m.
Whitfield-Calloway was shocked by the fatal shooting of Brown, owner of Sloppy Chops and Sloppy Crab, outside Suite 100 at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday. Two others were reportedly injured.
“Suite 100 shouldn’t be open at 4:30,” Whitfield-Calloway said. “I’m hoping we’ll shut them down.”
Ombudsman Sherry Gay-Dagnogo convened city officials with state and federal leaders in an event paid for by the Michigan Democratic Party, Michigan Building Trades Council and a lobbying firm. A “bridging the gap” reception in January at Central Kitchen + Bar was meant to build better connections between Detroit officials and other government partners.
Multi-client lobbying firm McAlvey Merchant and Associates donated $500 to the Office of Ombudsman to pay for a portion of the event. The City Council authorized the donation and will be asked to review donations of roughly $6,000 from the Michigan Democratic Party and Michigan Building Trades Council, Gay-Dagnogo said Tuesday.
She was appointed to a 10-year term last October to serve as a liaison between the public and city departments. The ombudsman can also investigate city agencies, but not elected officers. Gay-Dagnogo, a former state representative and Detroit Public Schools Community District board member, said the event showcases the unique expertise she brings to the Ombudsman Office.
Gay-Dagnogo said it was a bipartisan event to find alignment between Detroit officials and state lawmakers. House Speaker Matt Hall was invited, but was unable to attend.
“I cannot abandon what I know as a former legislator, that there are a number of issues that require bipartisan buy-in,” Gay-Dagnogo said. “Similar to what the Detroit Regional Chamber does, we opened it up for everybody. What I’ve found is people go to a number of these events and talk to the same people, but they don’t take that wall down and work with people they don’t know.”
Council Member Coleman Young, who attended the event, questioned whether reporting small donation amounts is “excessive” during a Feb. 26 committee meeting. The Law Department confirmed all grants and donations must be approved by the council under the City Charter.
Sheffield will present her first proposed budget next week. Sheffield is scheduled to release the recommended budget and answer questions at 10 a.m. on March 9. BridgeDetroit is committing to cover all budget hearings over the next month in partnership with the Detroit Documenters and Outlier Media.
The Law Department submitted a confidential memo on the city’s ability to fund private home repairs. The end of federal pandemic relief funding jeopardizes the future of roof and window repair programs. Sheffield campaigned on finding resources for home repair.