The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has announced that from August, police will begin fining owners of overloaded trucks while portable scales will be deployed at warehouses, factories and farms.

The Ministry said on Friday the measures would help catch trucks using shortcuts to avoid the country’s more than 20 weigh stations. The Ministry also warned it would remove modifications allowing trucks to carry more weight than legally allowed.

San Chey, executive director of accountability watchdog ANSA-EAP, questioned the effectiveness of the portable scales. “I do not [think] the government can cover all the areas where the overloaded trucks are running,” he said.

Ministry spokesman Va Seomsorya declined to say how much the fines would be. Seng Chhoun, head of the committee tasked with tackling the issue, said the first two or three scales would be deployed on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

In May, Transportation Minister Sun Chanthol said overloaded trucks were responsible for $100 million in damage to Cambodia’s roads each year.