Kuala lumpur: The Kuala Lumpur Road Transport Department (JPJ) issued 2,398 summonses to 939 vehicles under the ‘War on Overloaded Commercial Vehicles’ operations conducted around the federal capital since Oct 14.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, 14 vehicles were also confiscated for offences, including carrying excessive loads, flouting service level requirements, expired Motor Vehicle Licence, lack of insurance protection, absence of a valid Competent Driving Licence (CDL) and Vocational Licence, as well as technical offences.

Of the vehicles confiscated, six of the drivers were from Indonesia and India, while eight were Malaysians. Enforcement actions were taken with the issuing of summonses to the drivers and owners of the vehicles in accordance with the provisions under the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (APAD 2010) and the Road Transport Act 1987.

The operation, which will continue until Dec 31, aims to ensure road safety and cultivate compliance with traffic rules among operators of commercial vehicles. The focus is mainly on areas identified as hotspots for activities involving commercial vehicles carrying excessive loads. Among the types of high-risk cargo are stones, sand, soil, silica, coal, iron, oil palm, and logs. Most of these vehicles are involved in the quarry, port, and heavy industry sectors, with the KL JPJ having inspected 5,967 vehicles so far.

The KL JPJ also faced challenges during the operation, including drivers refusing to cooperate by giving excuses, such as their vehicles being damaged and refusing to send their vehicles for weighing. Such actions could be prosecuted under Section 234 of APAD 2010 for obstructing public officers in the execution of their duties, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM200,000 or imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both.