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Trading standards denies leniency
Page 8
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TRADING STANDARDS has hit back at reports that foreign drivers are not prosecuted in the UK because of the cost involved, claiming it regularly does just that in Cornwall.
But the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) still maintains it can only bring drivers to court under "exceptional circumstances".
CM exclusively revealed last week that only two foreign operators were prosecuted in 20034 In its defence VOSA admitted it is a difficult and costly process.
However, Emma Northey, for Trading Standards' road traffic team, says it is "grossly unfair" to let foreign drivers off the hook. soil deals with them instantly.
In its annual checks of potato trucks in Cornwall. Trading Standards, with police and VOSA officials,have arrested three Dutch drivers for hours and tachograph offences in the last week alone. Two were in court within 24 hours.
As a result of this policy, Northey claims there has been a 15% reduction in the number of drivers taken to court since 2002.
She adds: "These guys all carry credit cards; the court takes the credit card numbers."
But a VOSA spokeswoman says the Cornish initiative is a "oneoff". She adds: "It's not something we can do normally they have specially arranged that."