Dealer loses the game
Page 15
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1 • A South Yorkshire general dealer has lost the use of his Operator's Licence for two weeks after being told by the North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Keith Waterworth that maintenance was not a game but an issue of vital public safety
George Smith, trading as H Smith & Sons, of Bentley, Doncaster, appeared before the TC at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry.
DOT vehicle examiner Peter Moses said that he carried out a maintenance investigation last October. He examined two vehicles, issuing one immediate and one delayed prohibition. He added that no inspection records could be produced and that there was no system as far as he could see. Two vehicles were being operated though only one was authorised on the licence, said Moses.
Maintaining that he was only using one vehicle, Smith said that the second vehicle belonged to his son, who had the same name. His son did not have a licence but had applied for one. The maintenance would in future be carried out by Steve Bishop, who ran two wagons of his own, said Smith; the vehicle would be inspected every six weeks. He admitted that he could not read and write and was unable to remember receiving a warning letter about maintenance in September 1995.
Suspending the licence for a fortnight, Waterworth said he could see that not being able to read and write posed problems. However, Smith had to ensure that his vehicle was roadworthy and he was still not hitting the mark in terms of safety