The Ontario, Canada, Court of Appeal Nov. 14 upheld the validity of a law that holds carriers absolutely liable for the consequences of a wheel coming off one of their vehicles on the highway, the Canadian Press reported.
The provincial Legislature passed the Highway Traffic Act in response to a series of accidents dating back to the mid-1990s resulting from wheels detaching from heavy vehicles in Ontario. The law imposes fines up to $50,000 on trucking companies for such an incident, even when the carrier could prove it had taken preventative measures.
In a unanimous decision, the court ruled this law valid against constitutional challenge.
The matter may be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.