Gelsenkirchen Police Stop Severely Overloaded Van
Overloaded van stopped on A2 motorway with 62% excess weight
Gelsenkirchen — On Thursday, March 26, 2026, a witness alerted Gelsenkirchen police that a van appeared to be dangerously overloaded while traveling on the A2 motorway toward Dortmund.
A patrol car intercepted the vehicle at the Gelsenkirchen-Resse junction and subjected it to an inspection. Due to the severe overloading, traffic enforcement officers were called to the scene.
Subsequent weighing revealed the van was 62% over its legal weight limit. Though registered for a maximum gross weight of 3.5 metric tons, the vehicle actually weighed 5,680 kilograms. The cargo consisted of liquid soap, leaving just 18 centimeters of clearance between the bumper and the road surface.
Authorities prohibited the driver from continuing the journey and ordered the load to be redistributed. Both the driver and the vehicle owner now face administrative proceedings, with standard fines of €235 each. Police are investigating whether the overloading was deliberate, which could double the penalty.
Gelsenkirchen police have again warned of the dangers posed by overloaded vehicles, which can cause damage to the vehicle and roadway while posing a serious risk to all road users.
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