Dozens of commercial vehicles sidelined after Burnaby inspection finds safety violations

A targeted commercial vehicle inspection in South Burnaby last month led to more than half of the trucks checked being taken off the road due to safety concerns, according to a police release.

The operation, conducted Feb. 25 by the Lower Mainland Commercial Vehicle Enforcement group, took place along Marine Way near Roseberry Avenue. Authorities said the initiative aimed to both educate drivers and enforce provincial safety regulations.

According to a release from Burnaby RCMP, officers carried out 67 inspections, identifying 172 violations and issuing 117 tickets. A total of 35 commercial vehicles were placed out of service.

Inspectors documented several mechanical and safety issues, including a missing fuel cap replaced with a plastic sandwich bag secured by a charging cable, an improperly mounted fuel tank held by damaged straps, and defects affecting steering and braking systems. In one case, a trailer showed structural damage linked to repeated overloading.

Police said many of the violations were found on a single dump truck hauling a flat deck trailer with heavy equipment. The driver received six tickets totalling $1,215, and both the truck and trailer had their licence plates seized before being towed for mandatory inspection.

“There are many professional drivers and companies that follow road safety laws. This is clearly not one of them,” said Const. Kevin Connolly, a designated commercial vehicle inspector with Burnaby RCMP, in the release.

Ten agencies participated in the joint enforcement effort, including municipal police departments, RCMP units, and local bylaw and transportation officials.