Water vehicles win exemption
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• All vehicles working for water companies, not just those owned by them, are exempt from using tachographs, the High Court has ruled.
The court threw out an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against Lancaster magistrates' dismissal of charges against JP Whitter and one of its drivers, Bernard Ryan.
Mr Justice Otton said that the three-axle truck driven by Ryan was used for drilling wa ter wells but had also been adapted for winch and lifting work.
Consequently it was no longer a vehicle "used for the carriage of goods by road" under article three of EC regulations. The article states that tachograph rules do not apply to vehicles used in connection with sewage, flood protection, water, gas and electricity services, highways, refuse, telephone services, post, broadcasting and the detection of radio and TV transmitters.
Mr Justice Otton said that the words "in connection with . . . water services" applied to more than what were the former water boards, and were now private water companies.