Provincial police officers in Essex County have been busy this week busting truckers.
A safe trucking blitz is underway until Saturday but so far 11 commercial vehicles have been placed out of service and 22 charges have been laid out of the 500 trucks stopped and 29 inspections done by the OPP and the MTO on Highway 3 and at the Highway 401 eastbound weigh scales.
Officers also conducted three drug tests resulting in one truck driver testing positive for cannabis. The suspect's driver's licence was suspended for three days.
Police said this test was the first positive test result done by the OPP in the province since the drug instruments were introduced earlier this year.
The new drug tool detects cannabis and/or cocaine in saliva by swabbing the inside of a driver's mouth.
OPP Drager machine used to test saliva for cannabis or cocaine. Aug. 22, 2019. (Photo courtesy of OPP)
The OPP is concentrating their traffic enforcement efforts on commercial vehicle violations for speeding, seatbelt charges, distracted driving and impaired driving.
"The OPP's goal is to ensure and promote safe driving practices for all Ontario citizens travelling our roadways," said the OPP in a news release.