Plate-swoppers fine
Page 18
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not high enough.
A HAULAGE contractor who admitted changing the plates and documents on a lorry then putting it through a test was fined the maximum of £100 by Sheriff John Wheatley at Perth on January 7. The Sheriff commented that the penalty was totally inadequate.
Robert Stewart Morton, trading as R & C Morton of Perth admitted that on June 4, at the local heavy goods vehicle testing station, he used documents, including a test certificate, with intent to deceive. The depute fiscal said that Morton's Volvo lorry passed the test and vvas issued with a certificate.
Later the inspectors were told that the vehicle they had tested
as a T-registered lorry and they Found that on June 3 Morton had asked a mechanic to check an R-egistration lorry for a test and rvas told that it could not be en:ered as parts had been removed. The T-registration /ehicle then had the registration plate of the other vehicle put on t and passed the test.
Inspectors found new studs and screws on the plates on the R-registered vehicle. The T-registered vehicle was out at the time. When cautioned and charged Morton replied, "I'm not the only one to do this, but I'm the one that got caught."
For Morton, Andrew Hunt said it was necessary at that time to book a test six weeks in advance and Morton had done this for the R-registered vehicle. Just before it was due for its test the engine blew up and though Morton had worked hard to get the vehicle ready in time he failed to do so as some parts were not available.
Mr Hunt said the vehicle was also due to be licensed soon and this could not be done without a certificate. If the date was missed the vehicle would be lying idle for five weeks at a busy time of the year.