Over the top for an overload?
Page 22
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jaybe your readers ...V1 would be interested to know that a 1.1-tonne overload on a 32.52-tonne attic cost me a £500 fine plus £67856 solicitor expenses, even though this is my first offence after using HGVs for over 35 years. This is only 3.5% overweight.
In your legal section I note the normal fines usually amount to around £100 per tonne overweight for first offenders.
Can you advise if there is anything I can do in the way of an appeal without incurring further legal expenses? Harry Panton, Turnff Abderdeenshire.
No faith in CPC holders
Although I have not written to you for many years, I am still a devoted reader.
But reading your traffic court pages a few days ago I was rather amused to learn that a Licensing Authority said he was surprised to learn a holder of a CPC had made errors!
Sir, what nonsense. I myself was refused a CPC at their introduction because I applied 36 hours too late (correctly so, I suppose). But
I know of two holders I'm not sure if you would call them villains but one does everything at least 95% illegally and the other, a likeable rogue, is about 65 years old and has spent over 20 of years of that behind bars (not public houses).
I do not know about any others but they hold CPCs quite legally, so now can people of this type be expected to tell the truth? I personally think we are better off without CPCs.
Howard EG Worton Jar, Grove Rd, London, If it's bad in tankers...
T f tanker drivers are ready
for a strike (CM 23-29 January) it shows just how bad pay and conditions have become in the haulage industry. Tanker drivers, particularly those who work for the big oil companies, have always been thought to be among the best treated in the industry and they probably still are. The point is that if things are bad for them, then they are far worse for everybody else. Bad conditions don't just mean dissatisfaction among drivers, they make haulage less safe. Tired, overworked drivers are dangerous, and it's about time that employers, not to mention the law of the land, recognised that fact.
Joe Houlihan, Charlton, London.
Where's our compensation?
Isee that another French drivers strike is on the cards (CM 23-29 Jan) so we'll probably find ourselves stuck on the Continent and forbidden to move by the French police yet again.
The most disgusting thing about this is that it is already two months since the last blockade and, despite all the hot air about compensation, nobody has seen a penny yet. The more cynical of us think that nobody ever will. But at least this time the Department of Transport might stop pretending it can do anything about it. Basically the French do what they like within their own borders and sod everybody else.
Russell Stone, Barnstaple
Wrong number for recovery
There is an error in Commercial Motor (1622 Jan) at the end of the feature "Cold Comfort" by Steve McQueen on page 38 under "Useful contacts". The name and telephone number for RRRA should read. Peter Cosby, 01205 290667.
Peter Cosby, Road Rescue Recovery Association.