A $1800 fine imposed on a South Island freight company has been slammed as ”woefully inadequate” by a union representing transport workers.
The fine was handed to Summerland Express Freight which pleaded guilty to two counts of operating an unsafe vehicle in the Dunedin District Court in May, the Otago Daily Times reports.
The company has been involved in four crashes in recent months and drivers have been charged with careless and drugged driving relating to two crashes.
In December, a Summerland truck-and-trailer unit crashed at Pine Hill Rd, rolling on to its side, critically injuring the driver, ODT reports.
An investigation by the police commercial vehicle safety team found the accident was caused by brake failure on the trailer due to a mechanical fault.
First Union southern region secretary Paul Watson told the Otago Daily Times the fine was ”woefully inadequate” and sent the wrong message to transport operators.
”It beggars belief that they could impose such a low fine,” he says.
