Manx discharged and fined,
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• Isle of Man haulier Manx Seaferry Freight has been given an absolute discharge, but ordered to pay prosecution costs of 2120, after admitting using a vehicle without an excise licence.
Christopher Worthy, prosecuting for the North Western Traffic Area, told Rochdale magistrates that a 32-tonne artic was stopped in a weight check in August 1986 and was seen to be displaying an excise licence issued in the Isle of Man. Further enquiries revealed that it had been operating in this country since February 1986 without returning to the island.
The difference in duty was considerable — such a vehicle paid just 2487 per year in the Isle of Man compared with 22,450 in this country. When interviewed, managing director Norman Freeland claimed its competitors were still operating in this country with Manxregistered vehicles and without 0-licences.
Michael Mackie, defending, said Manx Seaferry Freight were one of four companies that carried virtually all the freight in and out of the island.
The practice was for unaccompanied trailers to make the ferry crossing, for collection by tractive units on the mainland. The company was anxious for it to be accepted that it was not a pirate corning over from the Isle of Man with the intention of freeloading on our road system. Though a grey area, the company had applied for an 0-licence after an official complaint about Manx operators had been made to the North Western Traffic Area by Liverpool hauliers, who lost traffic when Liverpool docks closed. During discussions with the traffic area over whether the vehicles ought to be taxed in this country the vehicle concerned was stopped and the prosecution brought at something of a test case.
The company did not see why, having paid tax on the Isle of Man, it should have pay again when English hauliers could operate vehicles on the island with UK excise licences.