Officials said offences related to overloaded trucks have almost disappeared after the Ministry of Public Works and Transport renewed efforts to strengthen law enforcement without exception.

Taing Pov, director of the ministry’s Secretariat, told The Post on July 28 that the decrease in the number of offences was due to more than 30 weigh stations set up across the country and the good work of mobile inspection groups.

“Overloaded trucks have declined in numbers as no new cases are being reported after the ministry’s announcement [of strict law enforcement],” he said.

According to Pov, more than 170 overloaded vehicles were stopped by the mobile inspection groups this year. Offenders faced fines and vehicles were impounded for one year as stated in the law.

He said the groups will increase inspections on trucks to ensure that such offence is eliminated.

On July 20, about 200 drivers and owners of sand trucks gathered at Hun Sen Boulevard in Kandal province to demand the return of their trucks that were impounded for violating load limits. But the ministry rejected their demands.

Puth Cement, a truck driver who joined the protest, told The Post on July 28 that he was guilty of overloading his truck, but asked the ministry to return his vehicle so he could continue his business. He also promised not to repeat the offence.

Kong Sovann, a public health specialist and director of the International Safety Fund Programme, said the mobile inspection groups have reduced the

number of offences and they will ensure that criminal activities will be prevented in a timely and effective manner.

He said however that some people will look for ways to circumvent the law. “So, the more mobile teams patrolling, the better it is.”