The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Local Police recently halted a well-known food truck for surpassing the weight limit of the semi-trailer it was being transported in by 126% and for carrying perishable meat without proper refrigeration. The incident occurred near Tres de Mayo Avenue in the capital as the food truck was departing from an event near the Fairgrounds.
Following the intervention by municipal officers, the vehicle was taken off public roads and impounded at the municipal warehouse. The owner later retrieved it after paying a fine exceeding 4,000 euros (2,001 euros for exceeding weight limits and another 2,001 euros for transporting unrefrigerated perishable goods), as confirmed in the police report by sources consulted by DIARIO DE AVISOS.
According to the police report, the food truck, owned by a company in La Orotava, was signalled to halt by officers near the Meridiano shopping centre to verify the documentation of the transported semi-trailer whose legal weight limit is set at 750 kilos.
However, the weight recorded on the scale was 3,400 kilos, surpassing the allowed weight for semi-trailers by 126%. To immobilize it, a structured crane was required to transport the semi-trailer to the municipal warehouse.
Upon inspection of the vehicle at the Police Station, it was discovered that it was transporting meat products without the necessary refrigeration, posing a risk to consumers as perishable foods like meat are required to be kept in a cold chain to prevent spoilage over time. The complaint has been forwarded to the City Council and Public Health authorities.
Furthermore, the CSIF union has expressed worry about “the absence of oversight regarding the legality of means or vehicles participating in events organised by the City Council or those authorised by it, as most of them are non-compliant. A semi-trailer used for food service needs to adhere to traffic regulations, road safety norms, and the mandatory hygienic and sanitary conditions for food transportation.”
