Tayside weighstop
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HAULIERS and drivers were urged to use a new self-weighing facility at Dundee's Tayside Truckstop when a dynamic weighbridge was opened there last Friday.
If they do not use it, they can expect stiffer punishments from the courts and the Licensing Authorities if convicted of overloading offences.
Sheriff Graham Cox told CM that if a driver has weighed his load and found it to be legal, this would be a "very strong mitigating factor" in the event of his being prosecuted as the result of a subsequent checkweigh by enforcement officers.
But he noted that overloading is an absolute offence.
The Traffic Area will record all weighings at the weighbridge, although vehicle registrations will only be noted when it is manned.
Scottish Licensing Authority Hugh McNamara said that the presence of the self-weigher will affect the way he judges the good repute of any operator called to public inquiry as a result of overloading convictions in the area. The operator's licence would be in greater danger.
The weighbridge was opened last week by Scottish Office Minister Michael Ancram, and is one of three Scottish dynamic weighers being commissioned this spring. Also opened last week was a weigher at Craigforth, near Stirling, and the site at Findon, between Stonehaven and Aberdeen, should be ready in May. Both these may offer self-weighing, if they can be protected from vandals.
There will then be a network of six weighers in Scotland. The others are at Cramond, Beattock and Stranraer.