Number of overloaded cars surges in 2012 in Seoul

The number of vehicles busted for overloading surged in 2012 from two years earlier, data showed Friday, apparently due to tougher crackdown on such violations by the country's traffic authority. According to the data compiled by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the number of overloaded cars detected by traffic inspectors came to 59,564 last year, up 45 percent from 41,115 tallied in 2010. The combined amount of fines imposed on the violators reached 27.5 billion won (US$25.6 million), also rising 41 percent over the cited period, it added. The ministry said the increase came as it has started a tougher crackdown on overloaded cars, since such violators are perceived as potential traffic accident threats and damaging to road pavements that cost billions of won.