83 summonses issued during JPJ ops against overloaded lorries
SIBU: A total of 83 summonses had been issued for various traffic offences during the recent crackdown on overloaded lorries.
State Road Transport Department (JPJ) assistant director ( enforcement) Albert Clement said the operation from Nov 29 to Dec 2 this year covered the present trunk road across Bintulu, Mukah, Sibu, Sarikei, Betong, Sri Aman, Serian and Kuching.
“Out of the 83, 45 (summonses) were on overloading and transporting dangerous loads, 13 on illegal sideboard extension, and the rest for other (traffic) offences,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He reminded operators of lorries that action could be taken under Section 19 (1)( b) Overloading – Commercial Vehicle Licensing Act 1987 where an offender is liable to a fine not less than RM1,000 and not more than RM10,000, as well as Rules 92 (1) under Road Transport Act 1987.
On dangerous loading offences, Albert said offenders could be charged under Road Transport Rules, where the maximum compound was RM300.
He explained that the offence referred to loads protruding from the back or sides of these heavy vehicles, or items being stacked too high.
Meanwhile, Albert warned operators that JPJ would act against those running commercial vehicles including buses that did not have Sirim-approved reflective stickers on the rear and side sections of the vehicles, effective Jan 1 next year.
He pointed out that ample time had been given to operators to comply with this requirement.
According to him, these new stickers must be of Malaysia Standard MS 828: 2011 and the ‘ Recognised Sirim QAS International’.
He stressed that it was imperative for these commercial vehicles to have the Sirim-approved stickers to avoid accidents such as vehicles ramming from behind.
Failure to do so, he added, constituted an offence under Rules 9A (1) Construction and Use of Road Transport Act 1987.
An offender is liable to be compounded to a maximum of RM300, or not more than RM2,000, or imprisonment not more than six month, upon conviction.