Dear Cop - Commercial Trucks

Is it mandatory for commercial trucks to stop and check their brakes at designated pullouts marked for brake checks. I see these brake check pullouts along the Trans Canada highway - Rogers Pass, they are usually located before a steep decline occurs. I have followed some trucks that whistle right by these and seen other trucks pull off and, I assume, do their checks. I presume the checks are for safety but are they mandatory?
I have found commercial truck traffic on the Trans Canada traveling at faster and faster speeds so brakes must be in tip top shape at all times.
I also find the water and slush spray from these trucks an incredible danger for car traffic. Is there no spray control required on commercial vehicles?

All commercial vehicles must stop at brake checks at the designated areas as per the signs erected on the side of roadways. There are provisions for the weight of the vehicle required to stop which is usually posted on the signs. Failure to comply is a fine of $121 and 2 points for disobey traffic sign.

The law for signs is as follows:

Obedience to traffic signals
Section 161 Despite anything in this Act, if on or over a highway there is
(a) one or more traffic control devices indicating the direction vehicles must proceed, a person must not drive a vehicle other than in the direction indicated,
(b) a traffic control device indicating that a certain vehicle movement is prohibited, a person must not drive a vehicle in a movement prohibited by the sign.

In regards to your question of spray control, every commercial vehicle is suppose to be equipped with mud-flaps for trailers as well as the truck itself. The law in regards to this is as follows:

Equipment of motor vehicles
Section 219 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that a person must not drive or operate a motor vehicle or trailer on a highway or rent a motor vehicle or trailer unless it is equipped in all respects in compliance with this Act and the regulations.
Mudguards
Section 7.06 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations indicates that every motor vehicle, trailer and semitrailer not constructed so that the spray and splash of water and mud to the rear of the vehicle is minimized shall be equipped with mudguards and, if necessary, mud-flaps.

Failure to have mud-flaps will result in a fine of $109 and no points.

Constable R.A.(Richard) ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services - Media Liaison

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.