AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Driver referred to Crown Court

28th March 2002, Page 22
28th March 2002
Page 22
Page 22, 28th March 2002 — Driver referred to Crown Court
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

A Manchester truck driver caught falsifying tachograph records has been sent to Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing because the magistrates decided their powers of punishment were insufficient. Benjamin Stafford. employed by Co Monaghan haulier Gerard McElvaney, had pleaded guilty to 15 offences of falsification.

Prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, John Heaton said that the first 13 offences came to light after Stafford's vehicle was stopped in a check last September. The distance traces did not match with the odometer readings, with up to 320km unaccounted for. On each occasion Stafford had either used a second chart which he had not produced, or had run without a chart In the tachograph.

Heaton said the remaining two offences came to light when Stafford's vehicle was stopped in a check on the M65 at Preston in February. Stafford had clearly changed his tactics as, on this occasion, it was clear that he had interfered with the tachograph so that It recorded rest when he was actually driving.

Heaton pointed out that the legislation was there for road safety reasons and to create a level playing field between hauliers.

For Stafford, Tim Culpin said he had felt under great pressure from McElvaney's customers. Deliveries to supermarkets

caused particular problems, he said, as he had to arrive within a 30min slot but could then be forced to wait four hours to tip.

It was accepted that the average distance concealed in September was 144km and that in February he had removed a tacho fuse. The driving on each of those two occasions was no more than 15 minutes—he had simply wanted to get back to the yard.

He had spoken to Stafford's employer and steps had been taken to ensure that the customer was more sympathetic in the future, said Culpin. "Mr Stafford has been foolish and dishonest but he has not been reckless about road safety." he added. "He has not gained financiaNy from the offences, which are relatively Isolated. He has been a fool, nothing more than that"


comments powered by Disqus