Dangerously loose and grossly overloaded trailer hauled behind pickup truck leads to charges

Police conduct a traffic stop of a pickup truck hauling an overloaded trailer in Caledon, Ont., on Sat., May 24, 2025. The vehicle's trailer coupler was loose (top R), and vice grips were used as a door handle (bottom R).

Police conducted a traffic stop in Caledon over the weekend involving a pickup truck hauling a trailer and said they discovered multiple serious safety issues that resulted in charges.

Provincial police pulled the truck over on Saturday along Mayfield Road, and said that while separating the trailer from the truck they noticed the trailer’s coupler was “dangerously loose, with mounting bolts that could be turned by hand.”

Additionally, the officers said they discovered the trailer’s brakes were defective, plus multiple other problems, including vice grips being used as a door handle and the trailer being considerably overloaded.

Police also noted the driver didn’t possess a valid commercial vehicle operator’s registration and had failed to conduct the necessary safety inspections.

As a result, the officers seized the licence plates from both the pickup truck and the trailer.