Overloaded Van Bound for Tunisia Stopped Near Lyon, Driver Arrested

It is a tradition for Maghrebis in Europe to return to their countries of origin, Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria, to spend the summer holidays there. They choose to board a ferry with gifts for the family.

But this return to the country will not be easy for a Maghrebi from the Paris region. On Tuesday, the oversized load of a Tunisian who left the Paris region to reach his country attracted the attention of the highway patrol at the Villefranche-Limas toll booth north of Lyon. So many things were piled up on the roof of the van he was driving: a refrigerator, a washing machine, a stove, bicycles and furniture, reports Le Progrès.

This load exceeded the maximum threshold of 2.5 tons. The gendarmes asked the motorist to unload the heaviest items and leave everything on the spot. The vehicle was immobilized, and the driver paid 360 euros representing four fines of 90 euros.