Truckies targeted in big blitz in Far North Queensland

Reports came fast and furious to Spy about a blitz at Laura in the far north of Queensland which involved police, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) scalies, Parks and Wildlife rangers and other enforcement officers.

Spy is told that while motorists and van drivers were checked the main target seemed to be southern and interstate truckies heading to Weipa.

“I was pulled over and they checked my logbook and truck and trailer and the officer I dealt with was decent and I was not breached for anything,” one driver told me.

But he said the southern truckies with chemicals on board for Weipa were “gone over with great enthusiasm.’’

He claimed it was the biggest such blitz he had seen in decades.

Laura is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Cook and is located on the Peninsula Development Road, 310km north-west of Cairns and 1992 km north of Brisbane.

Spy also heard of increased enforcement at the other end of the country in recent weeks.

Many truckies have been stopped during numerous traffic blitzes on Tasmania’s Bass Highway near the town of Latrobe.

These have been conducted by NHVR inspectors and traffic police and Spy is told they have yielded results which have increased consolidated revenue.

The blitz highlighted the importance of adhering to speed limits, especially in areas where speed reduction signs are highly visible.

Police emphasised the need for all motorists including truck drivers to comply with speed limits and traffic signs to ensure road safety and reduce the risk of serious accidents.

Bass Highway is one of the most dangerous in Tasmania to travel along.