North Carolina's motor vehicle enforcement unit was switched to a new department Jan. 3, WRAL television reported. The state Legislature approved the move last year to address corruption allegations.

DMV enforcement was under the state Transportation Department, but now falls within the Highway Patrol's motor carrier division in the state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.

Crime Control spokeswoman Renee Hoffman told the Asheville Citizen-Times the new office would be responsible for enforcing federal and state trucking laws. The Highway Patrol will continue to enforce other highway laws.

The merger of the state's two highway enforcement branches was spurred by allegations of corruption in the DMV enforcement section, which prompted both state and federal criminal investigations.

A six-month Citizen-Times investigation revealed allegations of ticket-fixing, bribe-taking, politicking on the job and selective enforcement of trucking safety laws.

The switch affects 374 employees.