tipper operator Gravelrise has
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been ordered to pay fines, costs and back duty totalling £32,88383 by Selby magistrates after hauling colliery waste on contract without an 0-licence.
The company did not appear in court to answer 24 charges of using vehicles without an 0-licence; nine of using a document resembling an 0-licence identity disc with intent to deceive; one of using an 0-licence disc with intent to deceive; six of using vehicles in a dangerous condition; one of exceeding the permitted weight of a compensating axle; one of using a vehicle without a test certificate; one of using a vehicle with an uncalibrated tachograph; and one of using a vehicle without an excise licence.
Prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, Richard Wadkin said the offences were discovered after a joint investigation by the VI and North Yorkshire Police. They were concerned about operators who ran without licences to obtain a competitive advantage over legitimate operators, driving down rates. Wadkin pointed out that Gravelrise had never held an 0-licence.
False licence discs displayed in Gravelrise's vehicles were made out of blue plastic carrier bags and blue cardboard, using a number given to the company when it lodged a licence application 12 days after the contract began. The firm's bid for a six-vehicle licence was refused when it failed to attend a Leeds public inquiry (CM 29 May4 June).
On one occasion another operator's licence disc was used.
Company secretary Paul Brown had indicated that the contract had been worth Lim a year, said Wadkin. He told the court that the offences showed a flagrant disregard of the law for commercial gain, with Gravelrise's vehicles working for six days a week.
The magistrates fined the company 00,200 with £1,600.50 costs and ordered it to pay £1,083.33 in back duty.