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Flintstone traps four more

26th August 1999, Page 16
26th August 1999
Page 16
Page 16, 26th August 1999 — Flintstone traps four more
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Four more men have been fined as a result of Operation flintstone, the Vehicle Inspectorate's investigation into tachograph irregularities at two quarries in Lancashire.

Three tipper operators and a lorry driver were ordered to pay fines and costs totalling 14,775 after they admitted falsifying tachograph records and fairing to keep records.

The cases are part of a series involving 38 tipper own ers and drivers (CM, July 15-21) at Tarmac's sites in Clitheroe.

The chairman of the magistrates at Blackburn told the four men: "The ducking and diving that goes on in the transport industry is not acceptable."

Prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, John Heaton said the tachograph records were incomplete and did not give a true record of the driving and other work undertaken by the defendants.

Gary Benson, of Clitheroe, admitted seven offen ces of falsification. He had failed to put a chart into his tacho graph until he had left the quarry. He was fined 12,800 and ordered to pay 1100 prosecution costs.

Robert Wells, of Chorley, pleaded guilty to two offences of falsification and two of taking insufficient daily rest. He had falsified the records by altering the tachograph clock to give the impression he had taken the required rest.

For Wells, James Backhouse said the Tarmac contract was a tight one for ownerdrivers. There was pressure to ensure that the vehicles were available all the time.

Wells had been asked to make his vehicle available at night at short notice when he had been driving during the day He had been unable to find a relief driver and decided to drive himself.

In fining Wells 1600 and ordering him to pay 1100 costs, the magistrates commented that perhaps Tarmac should revise their operations.

John Davies, of Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to one offence of falsification and six of failing to keep a record. He also admitted that once he had interfered with his tachograph by using a trip switch. He was fined /800 and ordered to pay £100 costs.

Stephen Tomlinson, of Mytton View, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to two offences of failing to keep tachograph records.

Tomlinson, who drove parttime, failed to put a record sheet in his tachograph when he started work. He said he had not realised this was needed while he was still in a quarry. Tomlinson was fined 1200 with 175 costs.


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