News release
Vehicle inspection initiatives help ensure safety on Southwest Nova Scotia roads
June 26, 2026
-
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
From: Nova Scotia RCMP
On this page
Content
RCMP Southwest Traffic Services, in partnership with the province’s Vehicle Transportation Inspection (VTI) Unit and provincial motor vehicle compliance officers, conducted a series of vehicle inspection initiatives across Southwest Nova Scotia, resulting in dozens of unsafe vehicles being removed from the road.
Between June 9 and 11, officers and VTI inspectors carried out inspections in Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne counties, targeting vehicles displaying visible signs of potential safety concerns.
A second initiative took place June 16 to 18 in Kings, Annapolis, and Hants counties, with officers focusing on identifying vehicles that may have posed a risk to public safety.
“Ensuring your vehicle is properly maintained is critical. Everyone who travels our roads deserves to arrive safely,” says S/Sgt Wes Blair, acting Officer in Charge, RCMP Traffic Services.
Inspection results in Yarmouth, Digby, and Shelburne counties:
- 37 vehicles inspected
- 23 vehicles failed inspection
- 14 vehicles deemed unsafe and towed
- 21 summary offence tickets issued, including one for breaching a zero-blood alcohol condition
- 1 driver found operating while suspended
- 3 vehicles displaying fraudulent inspection stickers
Inspection results in Kings, Annapolis, and Hants counties:
- 31 vehicles stopped and/or inspected
- 15 Motor Vehicle Act charges for operating while suspended, not wearing a seat belt, having no registration and having no insurance
- 8 vehicles displaying fraudulent inspection stickers
- 1 charge under the Excise Act for possessing illegal tobacco
- 10 vehicles towed
Inspectors identified significant safety deficiencies during both initiatives, including:
- Bald tires with exposed belts
- Leaking or non-functioning brake systems
- Improvised or unsafe vehicle repairs, including components secured with vice grips
Road safety is a shared responsibility. While impaired driving, speeding, distraction, and seatbelt non-use remain the leading contributors to serious and fatal collisions, initiatives like these help reduce additional risks by removing unsafe vehicles from our roads.
