Tacho offences led to revocation
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The falsification of tachograph records by drivers employed by William Tottenham, of Coatbridge, and Bellshill Fish Distribution, of Dysart (of which Tottenham is managing director) has led to the revocation of both licences.
Scottish Deputy Traffic Commissioner Richard McFarlane has also refused an application by William Tottenham for a new international licence for 15 vehicles and 15 trailers in return for the surrender of the two existing licences.
The case first came before the Deputy TC in May 1999 when he adjourned proceedings to allow Tottenham to produce tachograph charts he had previously refused to make available. The hearing was again adjourned in November when Tottenham failed to appear, saying he had been mistaken about the date.
The Deputy TC said that when tachograph records were made available after the May hearing an analysis of them, and of charts previously produced, had revealed a significant number of false records. Many miles were unaccounted for and a number of charts had yet to be produced.
Asked about the nature of the falsifications, traffic exam iner James Griffin said there had been discrepancies between the odometer readings entered on the centre field and the distance traces. It could be that drivers had removed the chart from the tachograph head and carried on driving. There were also two occasions where the chart had been removed from the head and later reinserted, with the driver scribbling on the chart to try and hide the offence.
In November McFarlane had ordered a check on a further month's tachograph charts and had required Tottenham to produce the names and addresses of all the drivers associated with the false records.
After Griffin had told the Deputy TC that Tottenham had refused to produce any further tachograph charts, McFarlane revoked both existing licences and disqualified Tottenham from holding or obtaining an Operator's Licence indefinitely.