WHAT'S THE PENALTY?
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Drivers caught caught falsifying a tachograph record face a maximum penalty of 5,000 and two years imprisonment.
They can also be liable for further offences under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act, which carry larger penalties for both driver and operator.
Nigel Kirkwood, technical director at Tachograph Analysis Consultants, says instances of tacho tampering are time-consuming to analyse, but not difficult to spot for someone who knows what they are looking for.
'We can advise hauliers In great detail on what to look for and how to counter it,'' he adds.
Neil Barlow. VOSA head of enforcement policy, says his examiners are well trained in identifying any manipulation devices, and will check for them as a 'matter of routine" but believes a "significant number' of drivers and operators are prepared to use them -Where we find a magnet being used, we can take the view that the driver has no reliable evidence of having taken any rest periods and can apply an immediate 45-hour prohibition,'' he adds_