TRAFFIC cops have reported more “ridiculously significant” vehicle weight offences with nearly £2,000 worth of fines dished out.

A Dorset Police Traffic Unit team were positioned on the A31 on Wednesday, February 9, to enforce road safety legislation relating to the weight of vehicles on main roads.

“Some vehicles we checked were nice – underweight and mechanically sound. Others very much weren’t,” said a police spokesperson who posted about their activities on social media.

Firstly, a Mercedes tripper carrying wood and rubble was found weighing 72 per cent more than its legal requirement. The vehicle should weigh just 3,500kg, however the scales were clocked at more than 6,000kg. The majority of the excess was over the rear axle – which itself was 93 per cent overweight as a result.

Bournemouth Echo: Vehicles stopped for weight offences on the A31. Picture: Dorset Police Traffic UnitVehicles stopped for weight offences on the A31. Picture: Dorset Police Traffic Unit

The driver was reported to court for what was described as a “ridiculously significant” offence by the traffic team.

Next, a Mercedes Luton was overweight by 200kg which landed the driver with a £300 fine and “a long wait to offload”.

A Nissan flatbed was found to be 700kg overweight and its driver received the same punishment.

The team carried out additional stops and overall issued fines to six drivers totally nearly £2,000.