Robinson's rate rebuff
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Garstang haulier John Robinson has been given an absolute discharge by the Brigg Magistrates after admitting to using a two-axle tractive unit, taxed at the concessionary rate for a five-axle combination, to tow a two-axle trailer, but he has been ordered to pay the difference in duty for one month of £64.16.
Robinson has also been fined £100 with costs for using a vehicle without an operator's licence and without the twoyearly tachograph check.
Robinson's wife gave evidence that she looked after the administration of the business. Only three-axle trailers were operated, but the vehicle concerned was on contract to Conway Containerways and had been under that company's control. Conway Containerways had been aware that the tractor had been taxed at the concessionary rate, and when they had instructed the driver to collect the trailer concerned they had been under the impression that it was a threeaxle trailer.
The '0' licence offence had arisen after a vehicle had been involved in an accident. Six vehicles were authorised on the licence at the time and the authority had been fully taken up. Mrs Robinson had telephoned the Traffic Area Office and asked if a vehicle could be substituted, but neglected to follow it up with an application as the damaged vehicle was off the road for only four days.
She had not realised that the tachograph had not been recalibrated as the company had only recently bought the vehicle concerned arid she had wrongly believed that the accuracy of the tachograph had been checked.
Defending, John Backhouse produced a letter fom Conway Containerways confirming what Mrs Robinson had said, and saying that their Belfast office had neglected to inform them that it was a two-axle trailer.
Backhouse said that the driver had worked for Robinson for only a matter of three or four weeks at the time and might well not have realised the significance of the number of trailer axles. As far as the unauthorised use was concerned, an application for three additional vehicles had been lodged a month prior to the incident and that had subsequently been granted.