Warning on perilous position
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• West Midland Traffic Commis sioner John Mervyn Pugh has warned Telford-based haulier Gerald Jones, trading as GB Transport Services, that if he is convicted of the fraudulent use of a vehicle excise licence disc his licence will be revoked, Mervyn Pugh adjourned disciplinary proceedings pending the outcome of proceedings against Jones over an alleged forged tax disc.
He said information had been received from Portsmouth VRO that an untaxed vehicle operated by Jones had been found displaying a forged disc. It was being said that a cheque in payment of the excise duty for the vehicle concerned had bounced and the tax disc had been returned.
It was alleged that before
returning the disc Jones had taken a photocopy of it and then coloured it in with blue pencil.
Asked about a prohibition notice imposed after two wheels came off his vehicle, Jones, who holds a licence for two vehicles and two trailers, said he had been a victim of the lost wheels syndrome. For Jones, Michael Carless conceded that his maintenance system had not been entirely up to the required standard.
Jones added that the vehicle he now had was on contract hire from Norfolk Trucks, which was responsible for its maintenance.
Ordering that the vehicle must be submitted for a fresh annual test within 14 days, Mervyn Pugh said the fact that it was a contract hire vehicle made no difference.
He warned that Jones was in a very perilous position.
If he was found guilty of using a fraudulent excise licence that would be the end for him as a haulier.