During the visit, the investigator verifies that the carrier is meeting all of the conditions of the licence. Carriers are given an opportunity to discuss any problems they may be experiencing and to seek information on matters failing under the Agency's jurisdiction. Carriers are apprised of the results of the Inspection either at the end of the visit or shortly thereafter. The penalty for failure to comply with the law can range from a simple warning to a monetary pena or even suspension or cancellation of a licence. However, most infractions identified to date under this program have been relatively minor ones resulting in a warning being issued by the Senior Investigator.
TIP focuses on carriers or individuals who are suspected of operating illegally.
In either case, the public is being placed at risk since there is a very high probability that the carrier's insurance, if it exists at all, would not be valid in the case of an accident. Such illegal activities also place the licensed carrier, who is operating within the confines of the law, at an economic disadvantage over an illegal competitor. Targeted Investigations are often undertaken as a result of the Senior lnvestigator's own observations or knowledge of the industry in the region. However, they can also be instigated as a result of information received from outside sources such as other law enforcement officers, the general public, or another carrier. Regardless of the source, all information received is treated in the same manner.