LTA Targets Overloading in Western Division
One weighbridge team, along with a second set of portable scales, is currently in the West to assist our two enforcement teams already stationed there.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is strengthening operations against overloading in the Western Division. “The Authority is now targeting truck owners who breach legal load requirements with Traffic
Infringement Notices
(TINs), as truck companies must be aware of the regulations regarding load limits,” said LTA chief executive authority, Carmine Piantedosi.
One weighbridge team, along with a second set of portable scales, is currently in the West to assist our two enforcement teams already stationed there.
This portable unit is one of two usually in operation in the Central/Eastern Division.
“Government spends substantial funds annually to improve Fiji’s roads, and overloaded vehicles contribute to the already stressed roading infrastructure. “Because of developments happening in the Western Division, the weighbridge teams are monitoring loads being carried on the roads between Sigatoka and Lautoka and Lautoka to Rakiraki,” said Mr Piantedosi.
The type of loads carried, he said, are predominantly for construction purposes and range from sand and gravel to soft stone.
“The penalty for overloading is $1,000 per tonne in excess of the Legal Gross Vehicle Mass. Of the 17,191 trucks that were weighed between January to April 2017 nationwide, 277 were issued with Traffic Infringement Notices (TINs) for exceeding the legal weight limit.
“This amounted to $1.5million in revenue that was collected by the Authority,” said Mr Piantedosi.
Of the 277 TINs, 184 were issued inthe Central/Eastern Division, 40 in the North and 53 in Western Division. The Authority currently has one set of portable scales each in the Western and Northern Divisions and two in the Central/Eastern (with one of these in use in the West at present), and three fixed weighbridges located at Lami, Valelevu, and Lautoka.