Police: 40 summonses issued in fuel tanker safety sting in Suffolk

Dozens of summonses were issued and three tankers were taken off the road in an overnight safety sting to inspect fuel tanker trucks in Suffolk County.
Suffolk police and New York state troopers were aided by officers from the Department of Environmental Conservation and state taxation officials to conduct an unannounced inspection of tanker trucks between 9 p.m. Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday. Authorities say such stings are performed several times each year to catch unsafe trucks and bootleg fuel smugglers who bring illegal cheaper gasoline in from New Jersey and sell it to small independent stations.
Among the finds was a tanker truck that had no brakes, police say.
In total, 40 summonses were issued. Police say they found 25 truck safety violations, eight environmental violations and seven state tax violations. Three tankers were taken off the road, police say.
The Long Island Gas Retailers Association is proposing that the state create a dedicated task force to enforce truck safety and to stop bootleg fuel smugglers.