Clerical errors cost £134 in fines
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• Hours and records offences led to fines totalling £134 being imposed on Edward Bell Transport Ltd of Bradford, Yorkshire, and two of its drivers by the Dewsbury Borough magistrates this week.
The company which operates more than 100 vehicles faced seven charges of failing to cause current drivers' records to be kept, three charges of permitting a driver to exceed 11 hours on duty and one of permitting a driver to have a working week in excess of 60 hours. Driver Keith Mountain of Palm Avenue, Hertford, faced five charges of failing to keep current records, three of exceeding 11 hours' duty and one of exceeding a 60-hour week. Driver Stewart William Broughton of Evelyn Avenue, Thornby, Bradford, faced two charges of failing to keep current records. All the defendants pleaded guilty.
Prosecuting for the DoE, Mr M. Patterson said the offences involving Mr Mountain came to light as a result of a silent check, when, on June 25 his vehicle was seen at Shelf at 7.05 pm although his record showed that he had ceased work at 6.30 pm on that day. When the time sheet was checked against Mr Mountain's log sheet other discrepancies were revealed. Excessive hours had been worked on three days and the total duty time in the week was 64-1hours, 44 hours above the legal limit.
In mitigation Mr G. Tyler, defending, said there were no allegations that excessive hours had been driven only that the permitted hours of duty had been exceeded.
In respect of the offences involving Mr Broughton Mr Patterson said they had again come to light as a result of a silent check and in mitigation, Mr Tyler said .there had been absolutely no need for Mr Broughton to falsify his records as even with the correct finishing time he had not exceeded the permitted hours. The offences were entirely due to a clerical error.
The magistrates fined the company £67, Mountain £57, and Broughton £10.