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CABOTAGE
Page 54
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()Last October the Police and Trading Standards Officers paid particular attention to foreign vehicles leaving and arriving at Dover, and a large number of companies were prosecuted. I speak some French as I have been driving on the Continent for 15 years. On many occasions I have been told by French drivers that often, once tipped in England, they collect another load and then tip again before catching the ferry. I thought this was cabalage, so why don't the authorities do something about it when they carry out checks? I know for a fact at least four drivers stopped in October had done loads in the UK. Is this going to get even worse in 1992?
R Hall, Dover A What you have described
is indeed cabotage. However, it could be that some unscrupulous clearing houses are commissioning the offence and the drivers are unwittingly complying. Many small French hauliers get their business this way.
As far as the roadside checks are concerned, it would be difficult for the enforcement agencies to act unless of course they had specific proof, such as documentation.
Harmonisation in 1992 will eradicate the offence of cabotage in Europe.