Court Report
Had No Tachograph Fitted
A County Tyrone haulage driver was convicted at Antrim Magistrates Court and fined a total of £600 plus £16 court costs. The conviction arose when DVA Vehicle Examiners stopped and examined a 4 axle rigid MAN tipper in the Toome area.
During the examination of the vehicle it was noted that the manufacture's plate displayed a maximum gross legal weight of 32,000kgs thereby indicating that the vehicle required tachograph recording equipment to be fitted, calibrated and used.
An analysis of the drivers tachograph card indicated that there were breaches of the drivers hours regulations pertaining to weekly rest and daily rest. As a result of this further recordings were taken revealing additional offences relating to drivers hour's infringements.
Breached Euro Time Standards
A County Armagh operator was convicted at Downpatrick Magistrates' Court and fined a total of £900 plus £38 court costs.
The conviction arose when DVA Vehicle Examiners stopped a 3- axle Volvo articulated goods vehicle in combination with a 3 axle Fruehauf semi trailer in the Belfast area.
Upon examination of the tachograph records it was noted that the driver had breached the European time standards used throughout the EU for digital tachograph records. The operator of the company was subsequently interviewed and cautioned for the above offences, when asked if he understood the charges against his driver he replied "that the breaches were due to business pressures."
Exceeded Driver Hours
A Co Down driver was convicted at Antrim Magistrates' Court and fined a total of £2650 plus £16 court costs.
The conviction arose when DVA Vehicle Examiners stopped and examined a Scania 3+3 axle articulated HGV goods vehicle at the department's dynamic weighbridge located at Nutts Corner.
The driver was asked to produce his tachograph charts. Subsequent analysis identified a number of offences of exceeding the permitted driving period and insufficient daily rest. When asked "Do you wish to make a statement regarding this matter?" he replied "No."
Fined for Multiple Offences
A Co Tyrone operator was convicted at Dungannon Magistrates' Court and fined a total of £500 plus £28 court costs after DVA Enforcement Officers stopped a Ford agricultural tractor in combination with an NC 2-axle tipping trailer in the Dungannon area.
The agricultural tractor had been observed transporting site soil from roadwork's in Dungannon to a location 2.5 miles away. An examination of the vehicle identified that the driver did not hold the correct entitlement on his driving licence making his insurance invalid; the vehicle and trailer were not covered by a goods vehicle certificate and the vehicle did not have a secondary braking system installed in the event of non rotation of the engine.
The offences were highlighted to the driver and he was cautioned in accordance with Article 3 of the Criminal Evidence NI Order 1988, when asked if he understood the charges the driver replied "Yes".
He then answered a number of questions before asking for the interview to be suspended pending legal representation.
Overweight Offences
A Co Tyrone haulage driver was convicted at Lisburn Magistrates' Court and fined a total of £1000 plus £32 court costs after DVA Vehicle Examiners stopped a 2+3 axle articulated large goods vehicle in the Sprucefield area.
A subsequent examination of the vehicle at the Department's dynamic weighbridge at Sprucefield found it to be overloaded by 3850kg (33.4%) on the second axle, overweight on the gross vehicle weight by 4040kgs (22.4%) and overweight on the gross train weight by 8320kgs |(20.8%).
The driver was issued with a prohibition notice in relation to the overload. When asked "Do you wish to make any comment on the overweight pointed out to you today?" he replied "No".