OVERLENGTH TRANSPORTER CHARGE FAILS
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APOLICE prosecution concerning the length of a car transporter—described as the first to be brought in the country under the amended Construction and Use Regulations—was dismissed by Hull Magistrates last week. Mr. R. E. Paterson. who appeared for the defendants, J. C. Ashworth Ltd.. of Bradford. said that the case was a matter of importance to every car transporter operator in the country.
For the police it was said that a transporter loaded with 13 International Harvester tractors, towing a trailer carrying a further 12 tractors, was stopped in Hull and measured. The trailer was found to be 26 ft. 11 in. in length. with fore and aft ramps which measdred 2 ft. S in. It was pointed out to the Court that the length of trailers was increased in August from 22 ft. to 22 ft. ll-.5 in.
Mr. Fred Beardsall. a Ministry examiner, said that the front and rear flaps were horizontal and thus became a part of the overall length of the trailer.
Giving evidence, Mr. Jack Ashworth. a director of the defendant company. said that the flaps were used for loading purposes and were the equivalent of tailboards. It was possible to fold them up when not in use which made the vehicle exactly 21 ft. I I in. long.
Mr. Paterson said that no one appeared to have taken the trouble to measure the two ramps. The police and Ministry officials had jumped to the conclusion that all they were interested in was the overall length from tip to tip, including the ramps, but there had been an appeal in 1959 concerning is similar problem and judgment had been in favour of the defendants.
There could be no possible argument about the law. submitted Mr. Paterson. An overall length, according to the law, was an overall length. If a flap was down the vehicle had not been reconstructed and there was therefore no change in the overall length.
Chairman of the bench. Mr. E. Haller, dismissing the case, said that the evidence was not sufficient.
Eastern Hauliers Carpeted?
TWO days have been set aside in January by the Eastern Licensing Authority, Mr. W. P. S. Ormond, for five operators to show cause why their licences should not be revoked, suspended or curtailed. Four are private hauliers and thc other is the Transport Holding Company (in respect of British Road Services Ltd., Peterborough); it is understood that the B.R.S. hearing erises out of the is Ale of prohibition notices.
R.H.A. EVENTS IN 1965 "T• Hit annual general meeting and annual 1 dinner of the Road Haulage Association next year will be on Wednesda). May 12, and this will, as in the oast, also be the day on which thy " old "' nal7onal c.ouncill will meet for the last time. Similarly, the new national council will have its first meeting on the following day, May 13.
As previously announced, the R.H.A. umlaut conference will be at 1fiackpool in 1965, and the datcs are now confirmed as October 11-13.