The Rural Municipality of Hanover is hoping to see more power given to Bylaw Enforcement Officers.

Reeve Stan Toews says about five years ago, these officers had their Special Constable appointments revoked by Manitoba Justice due to the provincial review of the Police Services Act. Prior to this, the Special Constable was able to enforce weight restriction bylaws protecting the municipal road system from heavy truck weights.

(Hanover Reeve Stan Toews)Toews says during spring provincial road restrictions, some heavy truck operators are using municipal roads to avoid provincial motor traffic enforcement officials. He notes there is little their Bylaw Enforcement Officer is able to do to stop this.

"You can't do a lot about it," explains Toews. "I guess we can take down the license number and take it from there, but you can't actually weigh the person so your evidence is kind of lost."

Toews points out not all truck drivers in the southeast are intentionally disobeying the law.

"I would say a lot of our operators are courteous and if it's posted they will avoid it," he says. "But there's always some that take advantage of."

Toews says for the last few years, the municipality has been fighting this battle alone. He notes they have met with the province, voicing their frustration, yet the answer they receive is that the enforcement of weight restrictions falls under the Police Services Act.

"That, we are finding out, is not working very well," suggests Toews.

The RM of Hanover has now opted to find support from other municipalities to generate a louder voice on the matter. Back in June, it garnered the necessary support at the eastern district meeting for Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM).

"There are other municipalities that have the same issues," says Toews.

Thanks to the support in June, a resolution will be voted on later this month by delegates at the annual convention for AMM. The resolution will ask AMM to lobby the province to reinstate the Special Constable appointment to municipalities who wish to enforce certain sections of the Highway Traffic Act.

"I am confident it can pass," says Toews. "We're fairly confident that there are other municipalities outside the eastern district that have the same issue."