Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Focuses on Preventing Serious Collisions
Collisions are a leading cause of death and injury
The North Bay Police Service (NBPS), in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), conducted a joint commercial motor vehicle (CMV) enforcement initiative to enhance road safety.
“Collisions are a leading cause of death and injury. Our goal is prevention — removing unsafe vehicles from our roads and enforcing safety standards to keep everyone safe,” said Cst. Douglas MacIntosh, North Bay Police Service.
Commercial motor vehicles include much more than transport trucks. In Ontario, CMVs are generally vehicles registered at 4,500 kilograms or more and can include work vans, pick up trucks, and any other vehicle deemed for business-use. Due to their size and weight, collisions involving CMVs can cause serious injury or death. Enforcement helps prevent these incidents by ensuring vehicles are safe, properly documented, and lawfully operated.
Enforcement Results from February 25:
- 26 CMVs inspected, including 17 Level 1 inspections
- 27 charges laid for defective brakes, structural deficiencies, overweight loads, missing documentation, and permit violations
- 4 vehicles removed from service for major mechanical defects
Alarming issues discovered during enforcement:
- Defective or inoperative braking systems
- Vehicle exceeding registered weight by over 11,500 kg
- Structural defects such as rotten frames, and in one case a hole through the driver’s seat floor
- Missing wheel fasteners, flat tires, and inoperative parking brakes or turn signals
- Lack of Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CMVOR) and missing safety certificates
“The Ministry of Transportation is committed to road safety through proactive CMV enforcement. Joint initiatives allow us to identify serious safety concerns and reduce risks on our highways and in our communities,” said Braden Bradford, Transportation Enforcement Officer, Ministry of Transportation.
Officers were pleased to find that many larger commercial vehicles, such as transport trucks, inspected were fully compliant, demonstrating that many operators take road safety seriously. Properly maintained and legally operated vehicles reduce the risk of preventable crashes.
“The OPP works closely with other agencies to ensure unsafe vehicles are removed from our roadways. Roadway safety remains a top priority,” said Sgt. Henk Ruitenbeek, Ontario Provincial Police North East Region.
The NBPS, OPP, and MTO will continue collaborative enforcement as part of a broader traffic safety strategy aimed at preventing injuries, reducing collisions, and keeping area roads safe for all.
