Sharp, Swift and Pertinent Action Over G.V.9s
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APERUSAL of the licensing pages of recent issues of The Commercial Motor" reveals the welcome fact that Licensing Authorities throughout the land are getting , tougher with hauliers over the question of had or insufficient maintenance and non-compliance with the law in respect of drivers' hours and so on.
As reported last week, nine vehicles were suspended by the Scottish deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. A. B. Birnie, Mr. Charles Hodgson, in the East Midlands, was also severe last week when he dealt with two licence holders at Aylesbury, although he granted applications to the operators concerned. In Yorkshire the deputy L.A., Mr. J. H. E. Randolph, ordered six vehicles off the road following magistrates' -court proceedings against a Leeds haulier.
Action, in most of these cases, was taken under the " revocation,, suspension or curtailment" provision in the 1960 Road Traffic Act—the dreaded section 178—which, because of the procedure laid down, usually involves some delay before a haulier can be brought up before the Authority. The Northern Licensing Authority, Mr. John Hanlon, has adopted speedier tactics when the vehicles of operators in his area are " caught " in Ministry roadside spot checks and issued with G.V.9s (prohibition orders),
The offending operator is immediately contacted and told that the vehicle in question will be. suspendedfor a nominal period, depending on the gravity of the case, unless he wishes to come to a licensing court and argue—in public, of course—why the vehicle should not be taken off the road. Many of those involved have apparently accepted the penalty and, as a result, their maintenance arrangements have been tightened up., The loss of the use of one vehicle—and particularly if the operator has only a small fleet—for even one week could prove to be crippling. l understand that other Licensing Authorities are following suit.
I think this sort of action could well be applauded—provided that Licensing Authorities always proceeded with scrupulous fairness towards operators who wish to enter a defence.