Continental 'fatties' still evading prosecution
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by CM reporter CONSUMER protection officials in at least one county are concerned that some Continental drivers of overweight vehicles are escaping the prosecution net. According to David Burleigh, Lewes divisional inspector, consumer protection department, East Sussex County Council, it is difficult to prosecute Continentals, especially if they arrive in this country late at night or early in the morning when no magistrates are available.
Under present legislation, GV170 prohibition notices can be placed on foreign vehicles, but foreign drivers cannot be arrested unless they fail to comply with the notice, and drive the vehicle away.
Mr Burleigh told me this week it was often difficult to track down drivers to attend court hearings and when cases went to court the expenses involved usually far exceeded the fines. He cited an example of a recent case where the authorities incurred expenses of £150 but the driver was fined only £20. Often, he said, drivers asked for legal representation and an interpreter, and court hearings had to be adjourned.
Mr Burleigh expressed the hope that the present regulations might be reviewed in a way that would encourage closer co-operation between the county councils, the police and the courts.
He told me that at Newhaven, to take one example, prohibition notices averaged fewer than one a week.
Kentish view
However, when I spoke to Mr Noel Hunter, Kent County Council consumer protection officer, he said he felt that present UK legislation was adequate to prosecute Continental drivers effectively.
In some cases at Dover, said, drivers had be remanded in custody ov, night or for a few days a these cases had been quid cleared.
Among recent exampi of prosecutions given by ls Hunter was one involving; Austrian driver who d appeared after he had bet summoned in February tiyear; he was found within : hours and next day fint £100 and ordered to pay f: costs.
Last month a foreig driver was fined £250 wit £25 costs at Canterbut court for being over loadec