Call for red diesel alert
Page 12
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by Jane Sayer • HM Customs and Excise has come under fire from the Western and Eastern Traffic Commissioners for failing to tell them about operators who are caught illegally using red diesel.
In the annual Report of the Traffic Commissioners (goods) 1995/96, Western TC Air Vice-Marshall Ronald Ashford says: "Information, despite our efforts over the years, has always been patchy and I have never understood the reluctance to inform me of cases when HGVs are caught using red diesel."
Ashford wants to see more operators and drivers called to account for this offence.
Eastern TC Compton Boyd reports widespread abuse of red diesel in his area and, like Ashford, he complains of lack of information: "This represents a significant gap in our enforcement armour % ." says Boyd. "Operators who are caught red-handed should have their repute and financial standing called into question at a public inquiry— something needs to be done."
Ashford also criticised the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority for failing to liaise with the TCs on LGV excise issues. "I still see many cases where the DVLA have not proceeded with enforcement action because they could not trace the offender," he says. "yet my office had been dealing with him at the relevant time and probably still is. We really ought to be able to tighten-up."
7 The TCs' report shows a drop in the number of goods 0-licences issued from 121,067 in 1994-95 to 117,591 at the end of March this year. And the number of vehicles specified fell from 403.057 to 402,576.
Applications for new goods 0-licences fell from 12,795 in 1994-95 to 11,842 to 31 March 1996.
For the first time this year's report catalogued disciplinary action against licences: TCs issued a total of 918 revocations, 68 suspensions, 211 curtailments and 290 formal warnings.