Lengthy list of hours offences
Page 11
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Drivers hours
offences have cost a driver employed by Galawise Transport at lean in Staffordshire E550, when he appeared before Leek magistrates. The hearing of a series of alleged offences against the company and a second driver was adjourned until February, for trial.
Allan Ward of Meir, Stoke-onTrent, pleaded guilty to exceeding four and a half hours driving without the required break, exceeding the daily driving limit and failing to carry with him the tacho chart for the last day of the previous week.
Prosecuting for the Department of Tranport, Michael McKnight said that Ward's threeaxled rigid had been stopped in a check on the A50 at Sudbury. Asked why he could not produce a chart for the last day of the previous week, Ward said that his boss insisted that he hand in his charts every Friday The other offences came to light when the company's charts for the month of May were examined, McKnight said.
Ward said that he had exceeded four and a half hours driving because he had to get to premises in Cambourne before they shut. He had exceeded the daily driving limit to get back to Taunton, where he could find a bed.
The magistrates fined Ward £500 and 1:50 prosecution costs.
The other driver, Paul Noble, of Uttoxeter, pleaded guilty by letter to using a vehicle without insurance, driving a vehicle when not properly licensed to do so, and exceeding the permitted gross weight of the vehicle. He pleaded not guilty to the fraudulent use of a vehicle excise licence.
McKnight indicated that the plea to the latter offence was not acceptable to the DOT The company, who failed to appear, is accused of six offences of using a vehicle without an excise licence; five offences of using a vehicle without a test certificate; two offences of using a vehicle without a plating certificate; two offences of using a vehicle when the tachograph was not functioning properly; two offences of using a vehicle without an operators licence; one offence of using an operator's licence identity disc with intent to
deceive; one offence of permitting a vehicle to be used without insurance; one offence of failing to produce tachograph charts; two offences of permitting a driver to drive when not properly licensed; one offence of failing to ensure a driver returned his tachograph charts within 21 days; one offence of permitting Ward to exceed four and a half hours driving without the required break; one offence of permitting Ward to exceed the daily driving limit; and one offence of using a vehicle when its permitted gross weight was exceeded.
Indicating that the DOT was anxious that the case proceed as soon as possible, McKnight said they had certain worries concerning Galawise's viability as a limited company.