The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is putting the brakes on human trafficking during January’s Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
What Is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking involves the exploitation of individuals for forced labor or commercial sex acts through force, fraud, or coercion. For victims younger than 18, it is a crime regardless of force, fraud, or coercion. Traffickers target anyone—adults or children, citizens or non-citizens—and exploit them from around the world or within their own communities. On average, victims endure 15.4 months in a trafficking situation.
Traffickers often move victims quickly across multiple cities to increase their dependence and avoid detection.
ALDOT’s Role
ALDOT has joined the fight against human trafficking by training hundreds of employees, including rest area attendants, ASAP drivers, and TMC managers, to recognize the signs of trafficking. The training was provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign.
ALDOT employees are trained to:
- Be careful observers and note as many details as possible
- Record vehicle descriptions and tag information
- Call the DHS tip line at 1-866-347-2423
- Dial 911 if someone is in immediate danger
Flyers are placed in rest area breakrooms to remind employees, “If you see something, say something.” The flyers list the Department of Homeland Security’s tip line, 1-866-347-2423, which law enforcement staffs 24/7.
