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Norris names the day on truck impounding

2nd November 1995
Page 4
Page 4, 2nd November 1995 — Norris names the day on truck impounding
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by David Harris • Legislation to allow the impounding of trucks caught working without 0-licences is due to be drawn up in January, says Roads Minister Steven Norris.

Impounding has all-party backing so it should become law quickly, he adds.

This is the first time a firm date has been put on the introduction of this legislation: it follows Norris's commitment to impounding at the Road Haulage Association annual conference (CM 12-18 October).

The Department of Transport is still awaiting full analysis of a survey of 2,000 trucks to establish what proportion of vehicles are running without 0-licences; the results are expected by the end of November and Norris says that any figure above 2% will make impounding inevitable. "From the results we will develop a strategy and then must consult Government colleagues to find a suitable legislation opportunity," he says.

Brake, the road safety research group, welcomes the minister's promise and regards impounding as inevitable. "There is no doubt that the DOT survey will reveal more than 2% of hauliers are without 0-licences," says Brake. "We estimate it will be about 5%."

At first impounding would probably be confined to hauliers working without 0licences, but the legislation could be extended to deal with operators who persistently run unsafe vehicles.

Ultimately the DOT wants to set up a computer system that can be used by Vehicle Inspectorate staff at the roadside to check on 0-licences, but Norris is prepared to go ahead with legislation without this technology.

Under impounding laws operators whose trucks were confiscated would probably have a month to show they had an 0licence. If they could not do so their trucks could be sold.


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