Arac. Driver Was Under Age
Page 36
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WHEN is a heavy motorcar not a V heavy motorcar? This was the problem put to Carlisle City Magistrate on Monday. Mr. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw, defending an 18-year-old youth on a charge of driving a heavy motorcar. an articulated lorry, while under the age of 21, said: "You. have to decidcwhether or not an articulated lorry is a car or a heavy motorcar,"
He said that the 1960 Road Traffic Act says that a car must be 3 tons or over in weight before it becomes a heavy car. "The tractor part of the articulated lorrâ– is under 3 tons. It is the same as this young man driving a private motorcar with a trailer attached."
He added that the overall weight ot the vehicle was 3 tons 19 cwt., and the decision of the bench depended on whether they took the trailer and the tractor as one, or as separate units. "The tractor and trailer should be treated as separate vehicles."
Other Charges
The youth, Raymond Moscrop, pleaded not guilty to driving a heavy motorcar under the age of 21 and driving without insurance. His employer, Richard Wills, haulage contractor, of Warwick Bridge. e2arlisle, pleaded not guilty to permitting Moscrop to drive the heavy motorcar. permitting him to drive without insurance and failing to have the weight of the vehicle painted in a conspicuous place.
Detective Inspector Stanley Armstrong. prosecuting, said: "The submission of the prosecution is that this vehicle's weigh! is 3 tons 19 cwt. and cannot be split up for the purpose of carrying goods."
Mr. Wills told the court that for 30 years he had been under the impression that anyone aged 17 could drive an articulated vehicle.
Both men were found guilty on all charges and Mr, Campbell Wardlaw gave notice of appeal.