OPP charge two after unsafe commercial vehicle stopped on Hwy. 11

Ontario Provincial Police officers conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 11 in Temagami on Oct. 10 stopped a commercial motor vehicle for a Highway Traffic Act violation and subsequently conducted a commercial vehicle inspection, during which they identified multiple safety defects. (Supplied/Ontario Provincial Police)

Ontario Provincial Police have charged two individuals following a commercial motor vehicle inspection on Highway 11 that officers say revealed multiple safety defects.

OPP said officers conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 11 in Temagami stopped a commercial motor vehicle for a Highway Traffic Act violation at about 7:45 a.m. on Oct. 10.

Multiple safety defects

Police said the officers subsequently conducted a commercial vehicle inspection, during which they identified multiple safety defects, including:

• a damaged and inoperative driver’s seatbelt assembly,
• excessive movement in a steering shaft universal joint,
• cracked and broken frame crossmembers,
• loose frame-to-cargo-body fasteners & damage to the cargo body,
• inoperative turn signal lamps and
• an actively leaking fuel filter.

“The driver had presented a daily vehicle inspection report indicating that no defects were present,” OPP said in a news release Wednesday.

As a result of the inspection, the vehicle was deemed unsafe for operation, and its annual inspection sticker and licence plates were removed.

Multiple charges

The driver, a 24-year-old from Sudbury, was charged with failing to accurately complete a daily inspection report, driving a commercial vehicle with a major defect, improperly driving a commercial motor vehicle with a minor defect, driving with an inoperative seatbelt assembly, having a dirty licence plate and operating an unsafe commercial motor vehicle.

The vehicle owner and operator, a 34-year-old from Barrie, was also charged. The operator faces charges of failing to ensure a daily inspection report is accurately completed, failing to ensure a daily inspection is conducted properly, failing to ensure vehicle performance standards are met and permitting operation of an unsafe commercial motor vehicle.

Both were issued offence notices and are required to appear before the Provincial Offences Court in Haileybury at a later date.

Safety reminder

Provincial police used the incident to remind commercial operators of the importance of maintenance and inspections.

“OPP reminds commercial vehicle drivers and operators that proper daily inspections and ongoing vehicle maintenance are essential to road safety,” police said, adding that inspection reports must accurately reflect a vehicle’s condition.

Police added that inspection reports must accurately reflect a vehicle’s condition, and that safety defects must be addressed before a vehicle is operated on a highway.