Downhill battle for Mayers test case
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• A test case that might affect a number of prosecutions against hauliers and drivers has been adjourned partheard by the Leeds Stipendiary Magistrate David Loy. The hauliers and drivers in question are those whose vehicles have been checked on the conventional plate weighbridge at the Seacroft refuse transfer station.
Lorry driver Alan Mayers of Eyarth Hall, Ruthim denied using an articulated outfit when its permitted gross weight was exceeded.
A trading standards officer told the court that when the vehicle was check weighed, a
gross overload of 2.81 tonnes — some 17.2% — was discovered.
In evidence Mayers said that the weighbridge was situated on a slope, and that his tractor unit was weighed with the combination pointing down the hill with the rear of the trailer being up the hill.
The prosecution denied this, with the weighing officer saying that though the vehicle pointed down the hill when the rear axle was weighed, the trailer also pointed down hill when the tractor was weighed. That benefited the driver as the reading would be lighter than the actual weight.
Consultant surveyor Maurice Vendome said that in some circumstances the method of weighing used could give errors of up to 50%.
Loy has adjourned the hearing until the end of the month.