00 stopped in A2 swoop
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)ne of the largest traffic lops" ever undertaken in h-East England took place ie A2 at Faiconwood last c, when the police, Cusand Excise and the Denent of Transport stopped vehicles over a four hour id in the early evening. re authorities were con cerned primarily to stop British and foreign commercial vehicles and coaches on international journeys.
Only one lane of the northbound carriageway of the A2 was open to vehicles, so traffic moved slowly, enabling vehicle excise duty officials to identify and stop vehicles not displaying up-to-date road fund licences.
Sixty-two drivers were charged with driving a vehicle without an up-to-date road fund licence.
Vehicle defects were found on 80 vehicles, including tachograph irregularities, and a further five vehicles were driven without sufficient documentation (including insurance).
Four companies were disco vered to be using lorries without an operator's licence, and one company was found to be using a trade plate illegally.
Department of Transport officials placed immediate prohibition orders (GV9s) on six vehicles, and deferred orders on two others. One vehicle was overweight and four illegal CB radios were seized.
Customs and Excise officials made a deferred Customs arrest on one driver whose cargo had not been subject to sufficient Customs duty when entering the country.
Finally, one driver was arrested for drunken driving.
Altogether 167 charges followed the "swoop", and Inspector Colin Clark, who organised the operation, says he is pleased with the outcome.