Heavy trucks pulled off road for safety violations

Nine of 20 trucks inspected by Niagara Regional Police and Transportation Ministry officials during a safety check campaign in St. Catharines Friday were taken off the road.

The inspections took place along Welland Canals Parkway. Officers concentrated their efforts primarily on heavy commercial vehicles and contractor roofers and landscape vehicles operating in the city, a news release said.

Twenty vehicles were given complete safety inspections to ensure they were mechanically fit to operate safely on roadways, and to ensure their documentation was complete. Nine of those inspected were taken out-of-service by the MTO in order for repairs to be made.

Officers also issued more 30 tickets for various offences including overweight violations, and major and minor safety defects, including issues with vehicle braking systems.

One driver in particular, who had the wrong class of licence, was drawing a trailer with a load that was insecure, exceeded its payload capacity by more than 2,000 kilograms, had no independent braking system for the trailer, and was not equipped with functioning brake or signal lights.

One driver was arrested and charged criminally with driving while being disqualified due to a previous impaired driving conviction. The company vehicle that he was operating was impounded for 45 days and the driver was released on a promise to appear in court.