Ministry spot-check weighing to continue
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• Has the MoT the proper equipment and sufficiently well-trained staff accurately to weigh artic vehicles at roadside checks? This is the question many hauliers have been asking following the recent dismissal by Newcastle magistrates of an alleged overloading offence.
A six-wheeled artic belonging to Pollock (Musselburgh) Ltd., East Lothian, was stopped by the MoT on Al at Wideopen on December 12, 1968. The axles had to be weighed individually because the Ministry only had a 10ft, single-axle weighbridge. The MoT claimed that the gross permitted weight of 24 tons was exceeded because the aggregate weight of the three axles (4 tons 11 cwt 1 quarter, 10 tons 1 cwt 1 quarter, and 10 tons 1cwt, front to rear respectively) was 24 tons 19cwt 2 quarteks.
The defence was that this method was inaccurate. They claimed that the Board of
Trade did not accept this as a method of calculating the total weight and Mr. R. M. Hey, an inspector from the Weights and Measures department of the County of Northumberland, was called to give evidence on their behalf.
The MoT Northern Area, despite the decision, does not intend to abandon the spotcheck weighing or prosecution of offenders. CM was told on Tuesday that both the weighbridge and the method were accurate to within Icwt and that the Weights and Measures department in Cumberland used a similar weighbridge.
On Tuesday the Northern Area was successful in a prosecution for rear axle overloading against John Graham (Concretel Ltd.. Piercebridge, Darlington, a fine of £20 with £10 costs being imposed.
Three more overloading cases are to be heard at Newcastle upon Tyne on July 2.