In recent months, Ottawa police have focused on monitoring commercial vehicles.

During the latest safety campaign, officials say 60 inspections were conducted, 39 charges were laid and 17 vehicles were taken out of service. The registration plates of three vehicles were seized for non-compliance with the legislation.

Charges issued included overweight vehicles, improper brakes and missing annual inspections.

“Vehicles have been taken off the road due to serious safety issues, such as faulty brakes and improper lights,” police said.

Authorities intensified checks on commercial vehicles over the summer. This is due to new legislation that came into force on July 1, a police spokesperson told CityNews.

“Targeted enforcement is a way to send a message to the towing industry that we expect towing operators in Ottawa to comply not only with Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act (TSSEA) but also with their obligations as a commercial vehicle on our roads,” they said.

The rules were put in place to regulate the industry, reduce fraud and protect vehicle owners in need of towing.

Police point out that some of the charges are against the driver of the vehicle and others are against the company.

Some of the most common violations noted by officers are lack of pre-departure inspection, faulty brakes, unsecured loading, and lack of an operating certificate under the TSSEA.

Vehicles stopped for inspections range from small businesses to transport trucks. The problem is not unique to the national capital since the law was adopted at the provincial level.

“For all other control measures regarding commercial vehicles, this type of control is also underway across the province,” the spokesperson said. “This is one way we can keep our roads safe, ensuring commercial vehicles can drive safely and comply with all regulations.”