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S Jones cleared on five counts
Page 22
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• S Jones of Aldridge has won an absolute discharge on five offences of using over-length artics. Northamptonshire police had stopped the Jones artics in April, May and June. Some of the artics were hauling French semitrailers, and they were found to measure between 16.1 and 16.5 metres overall.
The magistrates were told by Stephen Kirkbright, defending, that the UK overall artic length limit is to go up from 15.5. to 16.5 metres in January, in line with the rest of the EC. One of the offences had originally been dealt with by a fixed penalty, but Kirkbright had written to the police and the then Transport Minister Peter Bottorrdey, pointing out that other prosecuting authorities had decided not to prosecute in cases such as this where amending legislation was pending.
The police had withdrawn the fixed penalty and written to the driver concerned assuring him that no further action would be taken. However, the Crown Prosecution Service had decided to pursue the ease.
One of the five semis had also been found to have two faulty brake actuators. Kirkbright told the court that the load sensing valve had been disconnected in France. He produced a letter from Norbert Dentressangle, who owned the semi, accepting full responsibility. The magistrates gave the company an absolute discharge.