Enforcement agents of Cochrane and Calgary took to Hwy 22 and James Walker Trail on Aug. 1 for their annual inspection blitz. Transport trucks and commercial vehicles were checked for safety violations, including burnt-out tail lights, defective trailer attachments and defective brakes on an airbrake system. "They choose that specific location based on the amount of traffic that goes throught there and the fact that it's one of the safer locations to do it," said Cpl. Troy Savinkoff. "A lot of times people think these are more minor things but it's helpful to do these inspections periodically to ensure people are are in compliance because the rules are in place for everybody's safety." A transport truck driver traveling through Cochrane was discovered to have had a suspended driver's licence while on the job. Meanwhile, 20 more violation tickets were doled out and 13 vehicles were taken out of service. In total, 26 inspections were conducted. Violations that were detected on commercial vehicles were loose or insecure cargo, loose suspension u-bolts, inoperative trailer brakes, inoperative trailer emergency brakes, defective safety chains, no working brake lamps or signal lamps, defective trailer attachments and defective brakes on an airbrake system. "When major issues are found with any of these components, the vehicle may be placed out of service. When a vehicle is placed out of service, the defects have to be repaired on site, or the vehicle has to be towed for repair," said Frank Borsos, manager of municipal enforcement. The enforcement agents conducting the inspections included Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, RCMP and Calgary Police Service. "Cochrane Municipal Enforcement would like to thank our partner agencies: Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, RCMP and Calgary Police Service, who work together to keep our roadways safe," read a statement released by the town.
