Drivers hit on tachos
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• Driver's hours and tachograph offences have led to fines and costs totalling 21,415 being imposed on seven drivers employed by Shearings Holidays.
The case against an eighth driver, accused of falsifying tachograph charts, was adjourned by the Trafford magistrates until later this month.
Pryderi Thomas, prosecuting, said that after complaints were received the company's tachograph charts were checked and various offences for a two month period were discovered.
Ronald Phillips of Whitchurch was fined 2600 with 250 costs after admitting to 12 offences of falsifying charts. The court was told that Phillips had increased odometer readings to hide the fact he was providing extra optional trips for clients on eight-day Scottish holidays — something that had been prohibited when the company was taken over by Pleasurama. John Geering of Great Sankey was fined 225 with 210 costs after admitting one offence of failing to take a weekly rest period. The court heard that he had travelled down to Dover on a Shearings coach on a rest day ready to commence driving the following day, assuming that counted as his rest period.
Patrick O'Hankm was fined 2100 with 225 costs after ad
mitting two offences of failing to take a weekly rest period. The court was told that on both occasions he had taken his coach in for repair on his rest day for the safety of his passengers.
Ralph Buckley was fmed £150 with 230 costs after pleading guilty to one offence of failing to take a daily rest period and two of failing to make entries on the centre field of a chart; Brian Foster was fined 250 with 225 costs for one offence of failing to take daily rest period; James Marshall was fined 2100 with 225 costs for one offence of failing to take a weekly rest period and Brian Naish was fined 2200 with 225 costs for four offences of failing to take a daily rest period.
The chairman of the magistrates warned the drivers to pass the word on to their colleagues that the court would not be so lenient in the future on such offences.