Hopes of overturning punitive fines fade away
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• by Sally Nash
Hauliers' hopes of successfully appealing against fines for carrying illegal immigrants are fading fast as transport lawyers report that a 'continuing stream of objections are being turned down".
Transport lawyer Ian Rothera from Nottingham-based Rothera Dowson says f ve appeals have already been rejected out of the 20 cases he is handling. "The general reason being given is that there was not an appropriate system in place or it was not operated properly on that occasion," he says. "For example, failure to use a padlock on the rear doors or failure to use a security cord around the curtain."
He reports that, with fines averaging 210,000 £14,000, hauliers are dispirited and angry about the decisions.
"Many of them feel they really have taken reasonable precautions to prevent this from happening," says Rothera.
The meeting at which Rothera, the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association were meant to vent their frustration over the appeal system to immigration officials was postponed until yesterday (14 June). As CM went to press The United Road Transport Union was trying to get an invitation, insisting that the drivers' viewpoint must be represented. Full details of the meeting will appear in next week's issue.