Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have cracked down on two unlicensed trucking operations from Brampton after discovering both companies operating without proper licensing on the same day this week.
The first incident occurred in Caledon, where officers stopped a tow truck driver from Brampton who was found to be working without a valid licence. Both the driver and the towing company were unlicensed, leading to multiple charges. As a result, the tow truck was impounded for one week.
Later that day, a similar situation unfolded in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh township, approximately 120 kilometers northwest of Kitchener. Around 1 p.m., officers on patrol received an alert from an Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) device on a passing commercial truck. Upon further investigation, police discovered that the 53-year-old driver from Brampton was operating the vehicle while under suspension.
The driver was subsequently charged under the Highway Traffic Act and Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act with multiple offenses, including:
- Driving while under suspension
- Using an unauthorized license plate
- Operating a commercial vehicle without a validated permit
The Brampton-based trucking company was also charged for allowing an unauthorized plate and failing to obtain a valid permit. The truck was towed from the scene, and the driver is set to appear in court in Goderich to face charges.
According to the OPP, tow truck enforcement has been a priority in Ontario, with officers laying over 500 charges and removing 41 tow trucks from the roads last year due to regulatory violations.
Drivers needing towing services along Highway 401 are encouraged to use the province’s Tow Zone pilot project by calling 511 or dial *OPP for service elsewhere in Ontario.
The Ontario government established a towing task force in 2020 to improve industry standards and address concerns about criminal activity within the towing industry. Police continue to monitor compliance to ensure safety and regulatory adherence in the sector.