Operators fined for 'serious offences
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Three Welsh tin
eper operators, who claimed that they had not had a rates increase since 1972, admitted falsifying tachograph charts while working out of North Wales quarries when they appeared before the Flintshire magistrates.
David Salisbury of Northop and William Houston of Flint each admitted 25 offences; Roger Hughes of Gwernaffield admitted 22 offences. They were each fined £1,200 with £250 costs.
Prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, Albert Oldfield said the three men were engaged in the carriage of construction materials from North Wales to various sites in the North-West.
When traffic examiner Geoff Whitley compared tachograph records produced with delivery notes he had obtained, he had concluded that rest periods had been recorded when the vehicles were moving, The offences before the court were said to be sample offences, representative of a course of conduct over a period of time.
When interviewed. Salisbury had admitted pulling the fuse from his tachograph while loading and unloading; Houston had admitted immobilising his tachograph to save time and get back to base. Hughes had also admitted pulling his tachograph fuse, saying he had done it to get his work in. and if he hadn't other hauliers would have got the work.
The VI regarded these as very serious cases, said Oliffield. as the regulations were not only designed to protect the drivers, but other road users as well.
Here were three experienced hauliers who must have known what they were doing and who had been falsifying records over a long period of time.
Salisbury said that he had never been on the road with the "tachograph taken out"; he had only taken It out for five minutes when loading or unloading. He had never fitted a switch as many drivers had.
They had not had a rates increase since 1972, Salisbury added, and they were earning less now than in 1972.
Houston said he had taken his breaks when he got to his destination rather than in the quarries—Hughes said he had done it and that was it.
Fining the three men. the magistrates said these were serious and repetitive offences.