Truckers ticketed for ignoring Dawson Road ban

Tractor-trailer drivers who disregard the City of Thunder Bay’s ban on heavy trucks on Dawson Road are being put on notice.

The Thunder Bay Police Service traffic unit is monitoring the road for compliance with the Designated Truck Route bylaw and issuing tickets to violators.

City police revealed Tuesday that on one day alone — Nov. 28 — officers patrolling between Dog Lake Road and Highway 11/17 stopped the drivers of a dozen transport trucks.

Under the Highway Traffic Act, tickets were issued for disobeying a sign, an offence that carries a fine of $110.

The violations are occurring despite the fact signs are posted on the highway to let truckers know Dawson Road is off-limits to heavy vehicles.

The new city bylaw, which took effect in October, requires trucks to stay on the DTR when passing through the city, or to remain on the DTR as long as possible and use the shortest possible distance on other streets in order to make a delivery or pickup.

The bylaw is aimed at keeping cross-country traffic on major corridors including Highway 11/17, Highway 61, the Harbour Expressway, Main Street and Island Drive. – tbnewswatch.com

article website here

Maybe the truckers think that $110 is a reasonable price to pay to cut time and distance.   Cost of doing business.

How much longer does it take a truck to go through Kakabeka Falls?  Worst case scenario, it cost you $110.   Best case scenario, costs nothing.   Either way, the trip is shorter.

Plus, the chances of getting caught does not appear to be sure thing.  Roll of the dice