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Veteran driver stripped of HGV licence after tacho fraud
Page 12
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oger.brownrarbi.co.ui, A DRIVER WHO USED a magnet to interfere with his vehicle's digital tachograph equipment has had his HGV licence revoked and been disqualified from holding or obtaining one for three years.
In a written decision following a driver conduct hearing in Glasgow on 22 December 2009, Richard McFarlane. Scottish deputy traffic commissioner, said Neil MacDonald. 61, from Tarbet.Argyll, h ad taken the "conscious decision to interrupt" the true operation of tacho recording equipment and was therefore "involved in a deception".
MacDonald, an HG V driver for 35 years, had been loading grain for Tarbert-based haulier B Mundell at the Baird's Malt facility at Pentcaitland, East Lothian, on 5 November 2008.
On the journey back he was stopped near Dalkeith by VOSA traffic examiner Clark Laidlaw.
The examiner inspected the vehicle and discovered a magnetic coat hook was attached to the sender unit of the gearbox, effectively "freezing'. the signal to the tachograph recording equipment. MacDonald explained that the sole reason he had used the magnet was to save 10 minutes on his journey time and make sure he could attend his grandson's fireworks party in Tube rt.
Michael Whiteford. representing MacDonald, said he believed it was the first and only time his client had used the magnet.
MacDonald admitted it had been "the most stupid thing he had done in his life" and that it had not occurred to him that using such a device could result in the loss of his licence.
The Deputy IC said revoking MacDonald's licence would provide a "strong deterrent" to drivers not to use devices such as magnets to interfere with tacho readings in the future.