Illness prevents haulier answering VED queries
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Consideration of the alleged use of untaxed vehicles by Pewsey, Wittshireibased John Black was adjourned because deep vein thrombosis prevented him from attending a Bristol disciplinary inquiry.
Paul Carless, appearing for Black, told Western Traffic Commissioner Philip Brown that Black was required to attend outpatients every day at 10:00hrs, after being hit by a wheel in his workshop.
Paul Thompson, prosecuting for the DVLA in Bristol, said they had a number of cases against Black where they had been unable to obtain information. He alleged that several vehicles on Black's licence had changed registration numbers, and that many had not been registered for some months.
Carless pointed out that Black had not been convicted of anything as yet Sian Longhurst, an administration officer with the Vehicle Registration Office, detailed dates of previous vehicle registrations which appeared to show unlicensed periods.
Vehicle Examiner Maxwell Carr said that Black had been called before a public inquiry in August following an unsatisfactory maintenance investigation.
Since then vehicles had been issued with prohibition notices, some of which indicated a significant maintenance failure. "In the previous two years 25 vehicles and trailers had been examined and 12 were found to be clear," Carr added. "Thirteen had prohibition notices issued to them, giving a prohibition rate of 52%."
When the 13 prohibited vehicles were presented for clearance only three passed first time, said Carr, "A high prohibition rate is likely because of inadequate inspections," he concluded. "It is blatantly obvious that this operator cannot repair this relatively small fleet to an acceptable standard."
The IC adjourned the case until Black is well enough to attend the hearing.