Saint-Sulpice-sur-Lèze mayor targets illegal truck traffic

The mayor of Saint-Sulpice-sur-Lèze, a village of approximately 2,000 residents near Toulouse, France, has begun personally photographing the license plates of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to combat illegal transit traffic.

Despite existing driving bans during peak hours, an estimated 350 trucks pass through the historic village center daily. Residents report significant damage to buildings, including cracked facades, damaged cables, and broken gutters. Some residents claim vibrations from the passing vehicles are so intense that certain homes have become uninhabitable, prompting families to relocate.

The mayor submits the photographic evidence to authorities to trigger fines. While the Gendarmerie conducts some enforcement, local officials note that personnel shortages prevent a permanent presence to monitor the violations.