Tub case goes higher
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Wigan Magis trates have decided that charges alleging the falsification of tachograph charts by haulier Carl Rigby of Coppull, Lanes and four of his drivers are so serious that they should be dealt with at Bolton Crown Court.
Ronald Cartledge, of Bexley Close, Davyhulme, Manchester; Mark Drummond, of Rufford Road, Crossens, Southport Michael Hooley, of Bexley Close, Davyhulme; Stuart Walsh, of Back Lane, Longton, Preston; and Rigby are all accused of falsifying tachograph charts; driving without charts on their tachographs; and taking insufficient daily rest.
Rigby is accused of aiding and abetting chart and rest offences; using a vehicle when the driver failed to use the tachograph correctly; permitting drivers to take insuffucIent daily rest; failing to produce tachograph records; using a vehicle when its tachograph did not comply with the regulations; and using a vehicle when the driver did not use a tacho chart.
Prosecuting, Roy Lewis told the magistrates that the alleged offences were speciments of more than 300 that were said to be revealed by a police investigation.
Last November PC Graham Robinson was on duty in Golborne when he stopped a Scania artic being driven by Hooley. On examining the tachograph Robinson saw two wires fitted to a switch, preventing the speed and distance traces being recorded. Hcoley admitted using the switch.
Later that day Robinson stopped a second artic driven by Drummond, who was not using a chart. The chart for the previous Friday showed the same odometer reading and indicated that Drummond had finished work at Coppull.
It was evident that the vehicle had been driven from Coppull to Golborne and the only way that could have happened was for the fuse to have been removed. Drummond admitted driving with the fuse removed on a number of occasions.
Rigby operated five vehicles. Robinson visited his premises and obtained tachograph charts and fuel records; following an examination of these documents Rigby and the drivers admitted the offences.
In the case of the drivers, about a third of the offences were before the court; in the case of Rigby about a quarter. Lewis said it was clear that the drivers had been driving far in excess of their permitted hours and taking insufficient rest.
Rigby had not been analysing the charts and had been turning a blind eye to the offences committed by the drivers, he alleged. The regulations were there primarily for road safety reasons and these men had jeopardised road safety.
The magistrates adjourned the hearing until 15 June.