Two days ago, the Police told the Samoa Observer that this kind of load is illegal.
According to the Police Spokesperson, Su’a Muliaga Tiumalu, drivers of these lorries could be jailed for putting lives of members of the public at risk.
He said the relevant authorities – the Police and the Land Transport Authority Traffic Officers – would be looking out for such loads.
To make the point, a photo of this lorry taken by a member of the public was published on page 3 of Thursday’s Samoa Observer.
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Yesterday, this lorry was back on the road with a similar load.
Another concerned citizen took this photo of the lorry carrying the unsecured load on the busy Vaiusu Road in broad daylight.
He said the lorry was carrying boulders bigger than a Getz and he worried about what could happen if the lorry sped over a road bump.
The question is, where are the Police officers?
And where are the L.T.A Traffic Officers?
On Tuesday according to Su’a, he said such loads show that the truck owners are not only negligent, it reflects their attitude towards public safety.
He added that any unsecured load carried which has no cover is an offense.
“A person can be charged under the Traffic Ordinance Act 1960 for that kind of offense,” said Su’a.
“Under the Act its unsafe vehicles and no person should operate vehicles in such condition or such manner or load so unsafe and unsecure that may cause injury to any other person.
“A person can be fined for $1000 or can serve a period of no more than 12 months in prison.”
As for the Lands and Transport Authority they remain silent on the issue.
An email sent to LTA on Monday has still not been responded to.
When L.T.A. Principal Public Relations Officer, Anelisa Auelua was contacted yesterday she said a response will be authorised and provided before 4 o’clock yesterday.
There was no response by that time and at press time last night.
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