Drivers in the doghouse
Page 25
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• Two drivers from Bulldog International of Andover were accused of falsifying tacho charts on the Continent when they appeared at Andover magistrates.
Dale Martin of Andover admitted two offences of using a false instrument, two offences of exceeding the daily driving limit and two of taking insufficient daily rest. He was fined a total of g500 and £10 costs.
John Scott of Basildon admitted four similar offences, as well as one offence of exceeding the fortnightly driving limit, one of exceeding the daily driving limit and one of taking insufficient daily rest. He was fined a total of 1201, and ordered to pay £10 costs.
Prosecuting, Maureen Truss said that Martin had falsified tachograph charts by winding the clock of the tachograph clock backwards and forwards. The offences came to light because a chart showed him leaving Ports mouth Docks at 15:40hrs when he was seen by a police officer in a silent check at Andover at the same time.
An examination of his previous chart showed that the clock had been wound in the other direction. Martin had wound the clock back in France and forward in England to achieve a full daily rest on the ferry.
For Martin, Graham Dickinson said that his wife had been ill. He was worried and wanted to get back home, and that's why he had acted stupidly. Five other Bulldog drivers before the court were ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £414.