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Magistrates order driver to pay £400 in
Page 33
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fines and costs for two tacho offences
ADRIVER CLAIMED his falsified tachograph chart was due to pressurefrom his employer to meet delivery deadlines. But he was fined £400 for two offences.
Dudley Harris, of Penwortham, pleaded guilty to two offences of failing to keep a complete record and one of falsifying a tachograph record when he appeared before the Leyland magistrates.
Prosecuting for VOSA. John Heaton said the offences came to light when traffic examiner Neil Vosper carried out a routine inspection of tachograph records belonging to Leyland based K&P Iddon'llansport.
Appearing for Harris, Deborah Harris claimed there was underlying pressure from the employer. She said there was an implicit threat was that he would be given "fiat, dirty work" if he couldn't deliver the loads in time without regard to the regulations. Harris, she said, had been "between a rock and a hard place".
A further knock-on effect if he did not deliver was that he would then be in the wrong part of the country for the job the next day.
The first two offences were admitted on the basis that a chart was present in the tachograph but the head had not been locked down after Harris had opened the head to check his hours. It was accepted that the false chart involved issues of road safety.
In evidence Harris claimed he spoke to his managers after the offences were discovered. It was claimed in court that they were unhelpful and distanced themselves from the matter. Harris said he realised he needed to get another job, which he obtained without difficulty. He was very happy in his new job.
The magistrates fined Harris £300 with £100 costs.
Harris's former employer, K&P Iddon, has not been charged with any offences as a result of this case.