Vaughan blitz nabs unsafe vehicles

Yorkregion.com
May 4, 2015

Investigators with the York Regional Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Unit, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and other Greater Toronto Area police services, hosted a two-day commercial motor vehicle safety blitz on April 29 and April 30 in Vaughan.

The two-day blitz was a joint-forces operation, including investigators with York Regional Police, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Toronto Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Peel Regional Police, Waterloo Regional Police Service, South Simcoe Police Service, Barrie Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, Ontario Ministry of Finance, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, York Region Public Health and Vaughan Bylaw.

During the blitz, a total of 488 commercial motor vehicles were inspected. Of these, 163 or 33 percent were taken out of service due to various mechanical defects and safety violations. Twenty-four of those vehicles had such significant defects the licence plates were removed and the vehicles had to be towed for repair. Provincial Offence Notices were issued for 353 commercial motor vehicle violations under the Highway Traffic Act, including insecure loads, improper tires, improper braking systems and documentation offences.

Drivers and operators of commercial motor vehicles are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles, as well as their loads, are inspected and safe before they hit the road. Any defect that compromises the safe operation of a vehicle can result in it being removed from service.