Haulier disqualified indefinitely
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416 • A Liverpool
haulier's case was described by North Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Jack Levin as the worst he had ever had the misfortune to adjudicate.
Chris Power, who had held a licence for six vehicles and nine trailers, failed to appear at a St Helens disciplinary inquiry. The hearing had been adjourned in June after Power said he had only just returned from holiday.
Vehicle examiner David Collings said the maintenance arrangements were flawed and had resulted in the operation of unroadworthy vehicles. Eighteen prohibitions had been imposed since September 1995, listing 22 immediately dangerous defects.
He carried out a maintenance investigation in January, inspecting two vehicles and three trailers. Despite the fact they had been prepared for his inspection, he found it necessary to issue two immediate prohibitions and two defect notices. Maintenance was carried out in the yard and inspection records were not properly completed, said Collings. Power had been unco-operative he added.
He had felt intimidated when he visited the company's operat ing centre at Collinwood Dock and Power's son had become abusive. Three vehicles were taxed at the private rate, said Collings. An attic driven by Power was stopped by police on 21 June. They found it was taxed at the private rate; the tacho was defective; a wrong chart had been inserted; there had been no twoyear check of six year re-calibration, and there were no annual test certificates.
Power's licence was revoked; he was disqualified indefinitely.