24 tickets issued during commercial vehicle safety blitz in New Westminster, police say

A uniformed police officer is seen in an image from the New Westminster Police Department's Facebook page.

Two dozen tickets were handed out and multiple vehicles were taken off the road during a one-day commercial vehicle safety blitz in New Westminster earlier this week.

The New Westminster Police Department said officers held the enforcement event along the 500 block of Royal Avenue on Wednesday.

“Working alongside the Port Moody Police Department, Delta Police Department, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, the RCMP Integrated Road Safety Unit, and Langley Township Bylaw Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, officers used their specialized expertise to inspect 23 commercial vehicles,” police said in a news release on Friday.

Inspectors found eight vehicles with mechanical or safety issues serious enough to be taken out of service, while four others were carrying insecure loads and one vehicle was deemed overweight.

Police said 24 violation tickets were issued overall during the blitz.

“We all have a part to play in keeping our roads safe,” Sgt. Andrew Weaver said in the release. “We’re grateful to work alongside our community safety partners, who bring valuable expertise to these checks. Their knowledge and training help ensure we’re identifying serious risks before they lead to a collision.”

Police also urged commercial vehicle drivers to ensure their vehicles are safe before starting their trips.