Police crack down

Worrisome: Around 400 offenses during truck checks

The police issued more than 300 reports during the focus operations.

(Bild: LPD Kaernten)

The Styrian police carried out checks on heavy goods vehicles on the south highway last week: A total of 59 vehicles were checked, resulting in around 400 offenses. 

The case of a horror animal transport with two dead calves made headlines far beyond the Styrian borders at the end of last week. The driver was pulled over by the Styrian police during a heavy traffic check on the south highway near Ilz. As tragic as this case was, it was not the only defect that the officers noticed in the previous week.

A total of 59 trucks were checked, resulting in around 400 traffic offenses. The majority (187 charges) were due to non-compliance with driving and rest periods. Six tachographs were tampered with. There were a whopping 101 violations due to the technical condition of the vehicles, inadequate load safety or other traffic violations. 

The paper rolls with a total weight of three tons were inadequately secured.

(Bild: LPD Steiermark)

The manipulation of the tachograph is suspected of being a criminal offense. "We are reporting this to the public prosecutor's office in Graz," explains Chief Inspector Gerhard Fassolder. Of particular concern was the inadequate load security of three tons of paper rolls or 22 tons of steel girders - the executive speaks of a latent danger here.