LA warns against normal user breaches
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• Two Devon haulage operators who appeared before a public inquiry to show cause why their licences should not be revoked, suspended or curtailed received stern warnings from the deputy Licensing Authority for the Western traffic area, Mr. A. C. Caffin, at Exeter on Wednesday.
Both operators, Mr. Anthony Smythe, of Bideford, and Mr. Robert Evans, of lnstow, admitted carrying goods outside their permitted areas.
Mr. A. P. Knapman, who appeared for both, said that Mr. Smythe had already appeared before the Quarter Sessions for breaches of the Road Traffic Act and had pleaded guilty to four counts of forgery and three of uttering forged documents. As a result he had been fined a total of £116 with 80 guineas costs. These offences had arisen as a result of excessive hours on the part of a friend who had been driving for him and who had also failed to keep proper records.
On the charge of carrying goods outside his area, Mr. Smythe said his A-licence permitted him to carry goods within the Western traffic area. He had regular loads for a pulp mill at Sudbrook, nr. Chepstow, a village two miles beyond the area boundary. He had thought he was entitled to carry some traffic beyond the area limits.
Mr. James Cheetham, MoT traffic examiner. said the records were now properly kept: Mr. Smythe's vehicles had always been well maintained.
The LA said at the outset he was inclined to think there was no alternative but to impose a penalty. "On this occasion I do not propose to make a direction but you can be quite certain it is the last chance you will get:' he said.
An application for a new A-licence by Mr. Smythe was then granted for two vehicles to carry specified goods for named customers.
Mr. Evans said he had worked C-licence vehicles until August of last year when he bought a haulage business comprising two tippers on Aand 8-licence for £3,000, In fact no work had been done for some time and all customers had been lost. "I used the tippers for general goods:' he said, "and for several quarries. I went outside my area once or twice thinking this was permissible."
He had since met Mr. Smythe and they planned to go into partnership. -We put in an application for general goods within 150 miles, but were told nothing could be done until Mr. Smythe's case was heard."
The LA granted Mr. Evans's application and warned that any future breaches of normal user would be dealt with severely.