AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Bright brought to book

6th June 1987, Page 18
6th June 1987
Page 18
Page 18, 6th June 1987 — Bright brought to book
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• Shropshire lorry driver John Bright, convicted of the falsification of tachograph records at Shrewsbury Crown Court, has been ordered to do 100 hours of community service, and to pay £50 towards the costs of the prosecution.

Bright, of Craven Arms, denied three counts of making false entries in tachograph charts in August 1985.

Prosecuting, Melbourne Inman said the offences were specimen offences — charts Bright had handed into his employers were found to be false in that the distance traces did not agree with the vehicles odometer readings.

Arnold Boden, transport manager of C Robinson & Co of Tenbury Wells, said he had found a number of irregularities on Bright's charts. The tachograph had been open, and when it was closed the traces were not in the same place indicating that the vehicle had been moved while the tachograph was open.

He agreed that the tachograph of the vehicle involved in eight of the nine instances had been recalibrated in May 1985 and that the head had needed replacement in November 1985 because of an erratic trace.

Charles Cox, transport warehouseman and distribution manager at the time, said Bright had been dismissed because he could not offer any satisfactory explanation.

Senior Traffic Examiner Donald Fisher said there were gaps in the traces and instances of double traces. The only possible way a double trace could arise was when the vehicle was run with the tachograph head open and then the clock wound back to try and match up the traces.

In one instance part of a trace appeared to have been drawn in by hand. He agreed he had not seen the tachographs themselves. On the evidence of the charts, however, the tachographs were working properly said Fisher. If they malfunctioned, they would stop altogether.

Bright denied falsifying the charts or making any admission to Cox. He said he had experienced problems with the tachograph in his vehicle between May and October but was unable to offer any explanation for the incorrect charts.

Stephen Clerk, defending said Bright had gained nothing from the offences and it might be that the explanation lay with the machinery itself. Judge Brian Woods said he took the view that the greatest punishment was in the defendent losing his job.


comments powered by Disqus