Overweight Trucker
A County Tyrone operator was convicted in East Tyrone Magistrates Court and fined £600 in addition to court costs as a result of his DAF 4 axle large goods vehicle being stopped in the Dungannon Road, Cookstown.
The driver was asked to proceed to the Department’s dynamic axle weighbridge in Cookstown and was then asked for his weight docket for the load which indicated the vehicle was over weight. The vehicle was then weighted and was found to be over weight on the combination of 2 closely spaced axles by 3,070 kgs (16%) and also over on GVW 4,010 kgs (12.5%).
Tachograph Offences
A County Down operator was convicted in Newry Magistrate’s Court and fined a total of £1,800 plus court costs following an investigation which identified many infringements of EC Tachograph Regulations.
Various driving and rest offences were found as well as tachograph charts not being produced and failure to use recording equipment correctly.
When asked about the offences the operators said, “Now that these offences have been identified to the company we have introduced new arrangements for the drivers. There are now tracking devices fitted to all the vehicles. The drivers are now monitored and have been reminded that they must comply with the regulations.”
Dangerously Heavy
A County Tyrone operator was convicted in East Tyrone Magistrate’s Court and fined £600 as a result of the operator’s 2-axle MAN tipper being stopped on the Morgan’s Hill Road, Cookstown.
When the vehicle was weighed it was found to be dangerously overweight by 2,760 kgs (36.8%). The driver was asked to produce his licence and insurance at Enniskillen PSNI Station as he didn’t have it with him. It was then found that the driver didn’t hold the correct category of licence and his insurance was invalid.
When the operator was asked if he had checked the licence prior to instructing the driver to drive the vehicle he said “No, I just presumed he had it. I assumed that everybody with a car licence could drive a 7 ½ tonne lorry. I didn’t realise that after 1997, you couldn’t do this”.
When asked about the weight of the vehicle he said it was site spoil and was hard to judge.
Penalty Points
A County Tyrone operator was convicted at Antrim Magistrate’s Court and fined a total of £750 and court costs, the operator also had 6 penalty points added to his licence.
The prosecution was a result of the operator’s 2+2 axle articulated large goods vehicles being stopped in Toomebridge carrying site spoil. On examination of the vehicle it was found to be uninsured, with no Goods Vehicle Certificate or Road Freight Vehicle Licence in force.
Heavy Foodstuff
A County Antrim Operator was convicted at Belfast Magistrate’s court and fined a total of £525 and court costs after the operator’s 2+3 axle articulated large goods vehicle was stopped at Dock Street, Belfast with foodstuff.
On examination of the vehicle it was found that the driver had failed to take sufficient daily rest on two occasions. On interviewing the operator he was unable to produce Tachograph record sheets, the vehicle also had no current Road Freight Vehicle Licence in force.
Jail Term
A County Armagh driver was convicted in Armagh Magistrate’s Court and fined £1,300 with
3 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
The prosecution was a result of the driver being stopped along the Armagh Road where the driver was asked to produce his current and any previous tachograph charts. The driver was only able to produce his current chart. On the examination of the chart it was noted that the driver had only completed the start mileage and location, all other information had been omitted.
The driver then produced his driver’s licence upon request and on initial examination of the licence it was noted that the security feature was missing. Upon checking the licence using test equipment it was found that other security features were missing. The PSNI were then contacted for assistance in confirming the identify of the driver. The driver was convicted on the charges of driving whilst disqualified, fraudulently using a driving licence, having no insurance, failing to complete a tachograph chart centerfield and obstruction and failing to produce previous tachograph charts. |
