3uspensions for one-vehicle operators
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
1 Double action was taken against two fidland operators in Birmingham last week hen Mr John Else, the West Midland LA, pth curtailed and suspended their 0 ;ences under Section 69.
The first case to be heard concerned Mr Dunnion, of Birmingham, who held an perator's licence authorizing two vehicles. Er Dunnion had been called to the inquiry fter a routine inspection carried out by a loE vehicle examiner had revealed that raintenance arrangements and facilities ere unsatisfactory.
Giving evidence in court, the examiner, Er L. W. Fullelove. said that on July 21 Lis year he inspected the only vehicle which as in operation and, as it was in a poor mdition, issued an immediate GV9. Other an invoices no record relating to mventive maintenance could be produced Id he was told at this time that the vehicle as inspected every six weeks by Mr unnion himself and also examined by a
mechanic employed by a local garage.
Mr Dunnion told the LA that since the inspection he had commenced to examine the vehicle every month and had also started to keep RHA-type maintenance records.
The LA decided to curtail the licence by removing the one vehicle which was not in operation and then to take further action by suspending the remainder of the licence for a period of two months.
At the same hearing Mr Else took identical action against the second operator, Mrs M. Bates, of Walsall, also the holder of an 0 licence authorizing two vehicles. After he had heard that little attempt had been made to improve maintenance arrangements despite several DoE inspections, Mr Else again curtailed the licence by the removal of the one vehicle margin and further suspended it for a two-month period.
Mr K. W. Girling, a vehicle examiner, had told the LA that the first examination had been made on July 13 1970 when he was told that maintenance facilities were to be improved, a maintenance pit constructed and RHA-type maintenance records introduced. However, at the last inspection on June 3 this year it was discovered that very little had been done to improve vehicle maintenance arrangements, although the pit was being constructed. RHA-type records were also being kept but on examination these were found to be incomplete.
Mr R. Bates, the licence holder's husband, said in evidence that although he was not a qualified mechanic he felt competent to carry out whatever repair work was necessary. He added that a contract has now been entered into with a local garage which would inspect the vehicle monthly and notify him of any defects discovered so that he could rectify them. The garage would also keep records of all the inspections carried out.