Lethbridge commercial vehicle checks down due to budget cuts

The Lethbridge Police Service is hosting a three-day joint forces operation targeting unsafe commercial vehicles.

The inspection began Tuesday and continues through Thursday.

A total of six agencies are involved, including LPS, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Alberta Sheriffs, RCMP, the Lethbridge County Community Peace Officer and Alberta Transportation Dangerous Goods, Vehicle and Rail Safety.

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The inspections are for mechanical, equipment and other violations.

But, police said the number of vehicles being checked is down this year because of budget cutbacks.

“We have a smaller turnout than in previous years, primarily due to budget cuts for a number of agencies. We are operating at approximately one third of what we were operating at last year for manpower,” LPS Traffic Response Unit Cst. Steward Seefried said. “That will directly correspond to the number of vehicles we can check and move from the road that are being deemed unsafe.”

Officers inspected a total of 31 vehicles on Tuesday and of those, 22 were placed out of service. A total of 70 commercial vehicle violations, 52 traffic violations and two dangerous goods violations were observed.